NAVEEN Patnaik’s statement that his party is for CAA but opposed to NRC hailed by Muslim leaders

After Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, his Odisha counterpart Naveen Patnaik has made public that that he supports the amended Citizenship Act but opposes   NRC across the nation. The BJD headed by Patnaik and JDU headed by Nitish Kumar voted in favour of the CAA in Parliament. The BJD had backed the amended citizenship law as it applies only to foreigners but does not support NRC.He also appealed to the people of Odisha to maintain peace and not fall for rumours. The amended Citizenship Act has nothing to do with Indians. It deals only with foreigners. Patnaik also maintained that BJD MPs both in the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha have made it clear that the party does not support the National Register of Citizens(NRC).The chief minister’s statement came a day after people protesting the Act took out a peaceful rally in the state capital and urged Patnaik to make the BJD government’s position clear on the amended citizenship law and the NRC.Though no major law and order problem is reported across the state following passage of the citizenship legislation, Odisha on Tuesday witnessed agitation by Muslim community members who sought a clarification by CM  Patnaik. The state has over 9 lakh Muslim population according to the 2011 census. The Muslim community members welcomed Patnaiks statement.”The Chief Ministers statement has come as a great relief for all the Muslims living in Odisha. NRC should not be implemented in the peace loving state like Odisha,” said Jamil Akhtar Khan, a member of the delegation Chauda Mahala Muslim Jamat with headquarter at Bhadrak.BJDs Rajya Sabha MP Sasmit Patra said: “During the discussion in Rajya Sabha on December 11, I have mentioned that our party BJD feels that this bill (CAB) has nothing to do with NRC. NRC is a different issue and needs to be discussed at length This bill should not be linked to NRC. NRC is a vast subject and government must be ready to discuss it in future.BJP and Congress criticized Patnaik over his stand.”Naveen Babu considers the people of Odisha as fools. People know what BJD is doing in Delhi durbar. Saying yes to CCA and no to NRC is nothing but the double-standard of the chief minister,” said Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik. Former MP and senior BJP leader Kharavel Swain also criticized Patnaiks statement.”The Chief Minister is opposing NRC because of his vote bank politics like Mamata Banerjee in West Bengal. By opposing NRC, Patnaik is encouraging infiltrators to grow in Odisha,” Swain told reporters. Senior BJP leader Prithviraj Harichandan termed Patnaiks statement as “unfortunate.”(Picture courtesy to rediff.mail)

“