What NRC? JD(U) chief Nitish Kumar drops the biggest hint till date

Facing criticism over his support to the amended citizenship law, Bihar chief minister Nitish Kumar on Friday (December 20) gave an indication that he will not implement the National Register for Citizens (NRC) in Bihar, adding to the troubles of ally BJP as it faces massive nationwide protests against the citizenship law and NRC. “Kahe ka NRC (What NRC)?” said Kumar replying to a journalist, reports NDTV.

Nitish Kumar is the first chief minister of an NDA-ruled state to shut its doors on the citizens’ register that would be crucial to the BJP-led national coalition delivering on its promise to expel infiltrators.

Kumar’s decision to clear his stand on the citizens’ register comes a day after protests erupted in several parts of the country against the CAA. His party’s vice president Prashant Kishor has been a vocal critic of both, the citizenship law and the register.

Also read: We guarantee that minorities will not get a raw deal: Nitish Kumar

In an interview to the Hindustan Times, Kishor said that he had an assurance from Kumar that he would not let the NRC to be implemented in Bihar. Before the day was out, Nitish Kumar sent a clear message to minorities that they had nothing to worry about as long as he was around. That was a message assuage the sentiments of minorities, who make up for about 17% of Bihar’s population.

“Just look at the efforts we made for the uplift of the minorities. Those who were in power earlier are engaged in inciting people. They should tell us what the minorities got during their reign. There are people who are engaged in the business of whipping up passions. But we believe in serving all and taking every social segment along. And we guarantee that as long as we are around, the minorities will not get a raw deal,” said the Chief Minister, addressing the Jal Jeevan Hariyali Yatra in Gaya on Thursday.