Vice President urges people to have a constructive debate on the CAA, NRC and NPR

Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu on Sunday urged people to have a constructive debate on the CAA, NRC and NPR. He asked them to study these in depth and fully understand their background before “jumping to hasty conclusions”.

Speaking at the birth centenary celebrations of late Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, Dr M Chenna Reddy, here, Naidu said violence and democracy do not go together. He cautioned the people to not get carried away. “On the CAA, NRC and NPR, the people of the country should have an enlightened, meaningful and constructive discussion, and not jump to hasty conclusions. Ours is a mature democracy and there is no place for violence in it,” he said.

Stressing on expression of dissent in a constructive, democratic and peaceful manner, Naidu recalled that Mahatma Gandhi eschewed violence in all its forms, even in the face of most daunting challenges. “While protesting against the British rule, he remained civil even to his adversary. He called off the Non Cooperation Movement after the Chauri Chaura violence,” he pointed out.

The Vice President stressed the need for maintaining the dignity of Parliament and Legislatures, and raising the standards of debates. He said policies can be criticised, but personal



attacks should not be made. Referring to the governance system, Naidu called for reforming it constantly to keep it in tune with people’s aspirations. He emphasised that transparency, accountability and people-centric policies were essential for good governance. Eliminating corruption, decentralising administration, cutting down red tape, promoting online interface between government departments and the public, and promptly addressing grievances were important features of a responsive administration, he said.

Paying rich tributes to Chenna Reddy, he said the late Chief Minister was a grass-roots politician and a mass leader, who relentlessly strove to uplift the conditions of the common man. The fact that he occupied so many high offices was a testimony to his administrative acumen and leadership qualities, Naidu said.

The Vice President also conferred the Dr M Chenna Reddy National Award for Sustainable Development posthumously on eminent irrigation expert T Hanumantha Rao. The award was in recognition of his revolutionary innovation of the Four Water Concept (FWC) for watershed development. Bandaru Dattatreya and Himachal Pradesh Governor Dr K Rosaiah, among others, were present on the occasion.