This is the first step towards NPR, NRC: Asaduddin Owaisi

After the Ministry of Home Affairs released its annual report, AIMIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi on Tuesday fearmongered about the National Population Register (NPR). While a few fields such as name, gender, date, place of birth, place of residence, father's name and mother's name were updated and Aadhaar, mobile and ration card numbers were collected for the NPR in 2015, the MHA stressed the need to update it again to incorporate the changes due to birth, death and migration. 

Though the Centre decided to update the NPR along with the census, this exercise was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

According to Owaisi, the MHA's suggestion was a precursor to preparing the National Register of Citizens. Initially published in 1951, the NRC was specifically demanded in



Assam by the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) due to the centuries-old illegal migration of people. 

The AIMIM supremo opined, "NPR is first step to NRC, which will allow anyone to object to your citizenship. It’ll make 'doubtful citizens' out of genuine Indians. Govt hasn’t conducted census (which is legally compulsory) but wants to conduct NPR (which is unconstitutional). Drop NPR, conduct census". 

Owaisi's claim comes even as the MHA has clarified that no documents or biometrics will be collected during the NPR updation. Only the demographic and other particulars of each family and individual shall be collected or updated during this exercise. The Centre has approved the expenditure of Rs.3941.35 crore for updating the NPR.