Centre, states heading for a show-down

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

special report

Centre, states heading for a show-down

Home Ministry may create its own machinery for NRC

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 21

The Centre and some states may be heading for a show-down on the implementation of the amended Citizenship Act and NRC.

Since many of the non-BJP states including Kerala, West Bengal have expressed their unwillingness to implement the CAA and its off-shoot National Register of Citizens (NRC), the Centre is mulling creation of a new machinery.

If reports emanating from the North Block housing the Union Home Ministry are any indication, the Centre will designate its own officers to implement the CAA/NRC. Instead of the District Collectors or District Magistrates, the centre may assign the task to FRROs (Foreigners Regional Registration Offices) to conduct the exercise.

The Centre may be giving an impression of softing its approch. But there is no plans to dilute th CAA or alter the course of NRC or NPR. The NRC is not a time-bound exercise and no time-frame has been set out for this for counducting it across the country. Addressing a public rally in Jharkhand, Amit Shah said the NRC would be rolled out before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. This is a long shot but the Centre has not relented on conducting NRC across the country. Rather, the FRRO s who conduct physical verification of documents submitted by the foreigners. There are a dozen FRROs in the country. The Ministry of Home Affairs is considering to deploy these FRROs across the country and provide its own machinery for verification of documents.

While Bihar, Odisha, Andhra Pradesh reluctant to implement and Kerala declasring that it would not even implement National Population Register (NPR), the Centre is set ot create its own permanent machinery to conduct Census/NRC.

The NPR is an age-old exercise conducted by the Registrar General of India (RGI) under the Citizenship Act 1955 every ten years with the help of the state governments. The RGI had already issued notification for conducting NPR beginning April 2020 to September 2020 across the country barring Assam in July 2019. The NCR will follow only after the National Population Register (NPR) is available in 2021.

The Centre is busy creating an alternative machinery only in defiant states. There are 15 states where the BJP has its own governments and most of the Union Territories are also under its control. In these states the Centre can undertake Census and citizenship exercises with the existing set up of District Magistrates (DM s) andDistrict Collectors (DC s). But in remaining states, it will have to designate its own officers.

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Census Commission contradicts Home Minister on Biometric

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Census Commission contradicts Home Minister on Biometric 

Says Biometric particulars Required for NPR

Census Commission is under Amit Shah  

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec. 25

Union Home Minister Amit Shah categorically asserted yesterday in a TV interview that no supportive documents will be sought from the usual residents while National Population Register (NPR) exercise. He also clarified that no biometric data will be collected during NPR exercise except the Aadhaar number, if any.

But if one goes to the website of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India (RGCCI), one can find the NPR page link updated as late as December 19, 2019. Interestingly, the RGCCI functions directly under the Union Home Minister of India.

The RGCCI page on NPR clearly says “the objective of the NPR is to create a comprehensive identity database of every usual resident in the country. The database would contain Demographic as well as Biometric particulars.”

The NPR page link also says, “It is mandatory for every usual resident of India to register in the NPR. A usual resident is defined for the purposes of NPR as a person who has resided in a local area for the past 6 months or more or a person who intends to reside in that area for the next 6 months or more.

The RGCCI notification is very unambiguous also says that the The National Population Register (NPR) is a Register of usual residents of the country and prepared under provisions of the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.

The NPR notice says that under the Demographic Particulars, following demographic details of every individual are required for every usual resident. These are as under; Name of person, Relationship to head of household, Father’s name, Mother’s name, Spouse’s name (if married), Sex, Date of Birth, Marital status, Place of birth, Nationality (as declared), Present address of usual residence, Duration of stay at present address, Permanent residential address, Occupation/Activity and Educational qualification

No doubt, the first NPR was conducted under the UPA dispensation when P Chidambaram was the Union Home Minister. But the same NPR data base was updated during 2015 by conducting door to door survey.

The RGCCI says that the digitisation of the updated information has been completed and the Gazette notification for conducting 2020 Census and NPR has already been issued.

It is, therefore, baffling as to why the website of the department conducting Census and NPR exercises contradict the Home Minister. 

See page link

http://censusindia.gov.in/2011-Common/IntroductionToNpr.html

Govt. puts NRC on hold, at least for now

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Govt. puts NRC on hold, at least for now

Says NPR not linked to NRC

Amit Shah also breaks his silence

New Delhi, December 24

The Modi government seems to put the exercise of creating a National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC), popularly known as NRC, on the back-burner. In the aftermath of wide-spread protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act, 2019 the government had already gone on the backfoot on creating a NRC. It clearly said that the National Population Register (NPR) had nothing to do with the NRC.

Today, Union Home Minister Amit Shah came out of the shell on the issue and declared that NPR cannot be the basis of the NRC. He said that NRC is completely separate exercise while NPR is only for population count in the country so that the government formulate its policy for the welfare of the people. He gave a series of examples as to how NPR would be in the interest of the people.

Amit Shah was at pains to explain in an interview to a TV channel today that the first NPR was conducted under the UPA regime in 2010 and the NDA government is conducting the second NPR.

He also explained that NPR data is a separate exercise while for NRC will be completely different and NPR data cannot be made base of NRC.

Even Information & Broadcasting Minister Parkash Javadekar had a tough time today to explain why NPR is being conducted. He was briefing the media persons post Cabinet meeting and replied to spate of questions on the NPR.

Javadekar also took shelter under the fact that the first NPR was conducted under the UPA government in 2010 and his government was not doing anything new.

There is no denial the fact that the first NPR exercise was created in the couuntry when P Chidambaram was Union Home Minister in 2010-11. Along with the Census operations, the UPA government also undertook NPR exercise across the country. Since the Aadhaar, a new brainchild of the UPA government, had emerged on the scene, the NPR exercise did not get any prominence and took a back seat. Javadekar did not tell is that the Modi government, through a special notification on June 25, 2015 updated the NPR prepared during the UPA era. The updated NPR has not been loaded on the website of the Registrar General & Census Commissioner of India (RGCCI) till now.

Reason being that the Modi government re-ordered up-dation of the NPR data across the country through a special gazette notification in July 2015. Thus, technically, this will be the third NPR in the country.

It may also be mentioned here that the RGCCI has also been entrusted with the task of preparing the NRC data and identify non-Indian citizens.

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PMO warns IAS officers for not filing Property details

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Special report (Govt Letter annexed)

PMO warns IAS officers for not filing Property details

Department sends letters to Secretaries, states

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec. 19

Extremely upset over the failure of hundreds of IAS officers for not filing their property returns, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has now warned them of launching “disciplinary proceedings, among other things”.

For the first time, the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT) directly under the Prime Minister, has warned the erring officials that action will be initiated against them if they fail to file their property returns. The stern warning came after a series of soft letters were sent to them.

Dr C Chandramouli, secretary, DoPT, wrote to all the secretaries to the government of India and Chief Secretaries of states on November 21, 2019 that a large number of IAS officers have not submitted their property return.

The circular letter stated that as per Rule 16(2) of AIS (Conduct) Rules, 1968 that every member of the Service shall submit an annual return in such form as may be prescribed by the Government in this reqard, giving full particulars regarding the Immovable Property Returns (IPRs) inherited by him or owned or acquired by him or held by him on lease or mortgage,either in his own name or in the name of any member of his family or in the name of any other person.

He said “Failure on the part of the service to comply with the requirements of the aforesaid provisions constitutes good and sufficient reason for institution of disciplinary proceedings, among other things. The government has set a deadline of January 31, 2020 as the final deadline of filing IPRs.

It is learnt that as many as 1500 IAS officers spread across the country have not filed their IPR details out of a total of 6500 IAS officers in the country until 2017 end. The number of IAS officers on Central Deputation Resrve is only 507 while the authorised strength is 1,381.

Now the Government has set a final deadline of January 31,2020 by which the data has to be submitted. If the same is not submitted on line, the Modi Government may proceed with legal and penal actions.

Modi to head Ram Temple Trust !

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

A Lokmat Exclusive Report

Modi to head Ram Temple Trust !

Mega Trust to be formed in January

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 18

Prime Minister Narendra Modi may head the Ayodhya Temple Trust being set up in January for the construction of the “sky-touching Ram Temple.” The Trust will be set up immediately after the “Kharmas” (inauspicious month) which ends on January 13, according to the Hindu calendar.

If reports emanating from North Block are to be believed, Union Home Minister Amit Shah is busy finalising the composition of the historic Ram Temple Trust. He has been insisting that Prime Minister Modi alone should head the trust.

Amit Shah is busy holding parleys with the other stake-holders and studying various Temple trusts existing in the country. The Sri Somnath Temple in Gujrat, Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams Trust Board, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine (Jammu) and Shree Jagannath Temple Managing Committee (Puri) are governed by trusts. But they all are under respective state governments barring the Somnath Temple Trust where four trustees are appointed by the State and four by the Centre. Interestingly, Narendra Modi and Amit Shah are members of Somnath Temple Trust as representatives of the state government. The trust is headed by Keshubhai Patel which has 8 trustees. But the number of trustees in the remaining temples are large. 

The Supreme Court had directed the Centre in November to create a “trust within a period of three months from the date of the judgment with a Board of Trustees or any other appropriate body”. The SC also empowered the Central government to frame scheme for the functioning of the Ram Temple Trust and construction of a temple.

A view has emerged in the government that Ram Temple Trust should be a Central government body with Narendra Modi as Life Trustee. The Centre should not delegate its powers to any other body or State of UP. After all, it was under Modi's leadership that the dream of “sky-touching Ram Temple” will be realised by 2024.

Home Minister Amit Shah, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, nominees of the RSS and VHP,  K Parasaran (who fought Ram Temple case in SC) and others may be inducted. A representative of the Nirmohi Akhara is to be inducted as per the direction of the SC.

It is not clear whether L K Advani or Dr M M Joshi will be included in the Trust. No one is sure whether nominee of the Shiv Sena will now be inducted in the trust after parting of ways with the BJP.

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Why Rahul Gandhi rubbed Sena and Many ?

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

special report

Why Rahul Gandhi rubbed Sena and Many ?

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec. 15

Rahul Gandhi may have baffled Congressmen including his mother & Congress Interim president Sonia Gandhi when he rubbed key party ally Shiv Sena on the wrong side by invoking Vir Savarkar.

But he was fully aware of what he was doing at the mammoth rally at the Ramlila Grounds on Saturday when he said “My name is not Rahul Savarkar. My Name is Rahul Gandhi and I will not apologise”.  Obviously, he was telling the saffron parties that Savarkar had apologized to the British. But he was not the one to do so.

Insiders say that Rahul Gandhi deliberately  invoked Savarkar’s name to rub the Shiv Sena on the wrong side. While the “Bharat Bachao Rally” was aimed at targeting the BJP and NDA, Rahul deviated from the script and provoked the Sena. Sources close to Rahul Gandhi told Lokmat that the scion of the Gandhi family was never in favour of the Congress-NCP-Sena alliance . Yet, due to political compulsions Sonia Gandhi gave the go-ahead to the alliance. But Rahul was never happy about it and he went public the moment he got an opportunity to pass the snide remark. It’s a different matter that Sonia Gandhi who spoke after him went according to the script and ignored his remarks.  It also transpires that immediately after the public rally, she got in touch with senior party leader Ahmad Patel to handle the situation. It was these behind-the-scenes activity that Sena’s Sanjay Raut’s tweet was guarded and the matter subsided.  But it clearly emerged that Rahul Gandhi’s remarks were well thought of and not a spur-of-the-moment statement.

Sources say that several of the Congress stalwarts including Chief Ministers were also unhappy that Instead of appreciating them, Rahul Gandhi chose to  congratulate  party general secretary Mukul Wasnik for mobilizing a massive crowd at the rally. He called out Wasnik and patted his back for the successful rally in front of thousands present. Rahul Gandhi did not name a single party leader for mobilizing such a mammoth crowd. The Chief Ministers - Ashok Gehlot (Rajasthan), Kamal Nath (Madhya Pradesh) and Bhupesh Baghel (Chhattisgarh) and former Haryana CM Bhupinder Singh Hooda worked for weeks to bring crowds from their respective states.

On the contrary, party general secretary Priyanka Gandhi congratulated her workers from UP who had come in large numbers and they cheered repeatedly when she spoke.

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Clamour for Rahul Gandhi's return as Congress Chief grows

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

special report

Clamour for Rahul Gandhi's return as Congress Chief grows

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 13

Congress Interim president Sonia Gandhi has renewed her efforts to persuade Rahul Gandhi to take the reins of the party once again.

Rahul Gandhi who had virtually gone into a shell, stopped meeting party leaders, attending meetings and remaining absent from Lok Sabha, has been active again.

He has not only been active on twitter but meeting with leaders again. He also attended the Speaker, Om Birla's customary tea party this afternoon after the Lok Sabha was adjourned sine-die.

He has agreed to address the Congress rally tomorrow at Ramlila grounds – a brainchild of Sonia Gandhi, aimed at bringing focus on Rahul Gandhi. Enthused by the formation of the Opposition government in Maharashtra, slowdown in the economy and growing protests against the CAB, Sonia Gandhi decided to hold a major rally in the Capital.

There are reports that leaders after leaders of the party will make a plea to Rahul Gandhi to take back his resignation at tomorrow's rally. Though the official purpose of the rally is to attack on the NDA government for its failure on all front and show to the people that Congress is an credible alternative, the covert purpose is to persuade Rahul Gandhi to listen to the voices of leaders and withdraw his resignation.

Rahul Gandhi did not listen to her advice and abruptly resigned taking responsibility for the rout of the party immediately after the Lok Sabha polls. Though leaders present at the Congress Working Committee tried hard to persuade him not to press for his resignation, he insisted on resigning. Its a different matter that his resignation was never accepted by the working committee and pending his absence, Sonia Gandhi took interim charge of the party.

Several senior party functionaries including Ashok Gehlot and Bhupesh Baghel, chief ministers of Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh have openly asked Rahul Gandhi to take back resignation.

Though Sonia Gandhi as Interim chief has improved the Congress graph in several states including Haryana and Maharashtra. But she wants to relinquish the charge due to various reasons including health reasons.

All eyes are now set on Jharkhand, where Assembly poll process is on and the party is upbeat.

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Modi Govt. ends reservations for Anglo-Indians in Lok Sabha

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Modi Govt. ends reservations for Anglo-Indians in Lok Sabha 

Bill to come in Rajya Sabha tomorrow

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 11

All eyes are set in the Rajya Sabha tomorrow when the bill

for extending the reservations for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes for ten years will be introduced. The eyes are set not because there is a division within the political class on giving benefits of reservations for ten years to these communities. It was unanimously passed in the Lok Sabha after a debate which continued till mid-night. The issue at stake is in the same bill, the Modi government intends to withdrew reservations for two seats in the Lok Sabha for the Anglo-Indian community.

Two members of the Anglo Indian community have been nominated in the Lok Sabha since the adoption of the Constitution, under article 334(b) since 1952. Now the decades old provision has been done away with as the government felt that the community does not require this reservation any more after 70 years.

The reservation for members of the Anglo-Indian community had been done away with “for the time being”. The issue could be revisited at a later day, if required.

There are 84 members from the Scheduled Caste and 47 from the Scheduled Tribe communities in Parliament which will continue to enjoy the fruits of reservations.

With this the strength of the Lok Sabha will come down from 543 from the existing 545 if the bill is cleared by the Rajya Sabha. The President of India nominates two members from the Anglo-Indian community, making it a house of 545 members after 543 members are elected.

During the first term of the Modi government, two members from the Anglo-Indian community were nominated to the Lok Sabha. With the bill, it became clear that the Modi government had decided well in advance that the two seats for the anglo-Indians will be abolished.

A panel, comprising Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Home Minister Amit Shah, Social Justice Minister Thaawar Chand Gehlot had earlier decided to do away with the two nominations.

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Sena, NCP lent helping hand to Govt. in Rajya Sabha

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Special report

Sena, NCP lent helping hand to Govt. in Rajya Sabha

Their 5 MPs absented from voting on CAB 

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 12

The Shiv Sena may be stoutly opposing the BJP and accusing its policies left, right and center. But when it comes to voting against the ruling BJP's bills, the Sena has different yardstick. All three members of the Shiv Sena in the Rajya Sabha – Sanjay Raut, Anil Desai and Rajkumar Dhoot walked out of the Rajya Sabha when the Citizenship Amendment Bill (Bill), 2019 was put to vote. The Shiv Sena voted for the bill in the Lok Sabha and took a 180 degree turn when Congress threatened to pull the plugs on the Uddhav Thackeray government in Maharashtra. They all walked out and helped in different way to get the CAB passed by a massive margin. The CAB was passed by the RS by 125 to 99 though the NDA's official strength was only 99. It mustered 26 extra votes despite four of its own supporting MPs were absent due to severe health reasons.

As if this was not enough, two senior leaders of the NCP- Majeed Memon and Vandana Chavan – were also absent when the CAB was put to vote in Rajya Sabha last night. Though Sharad Pawar and Praful Patel were present but the two other members ensured their absence paving the way CAB's smooth passage.

Two members of the Bahujan Samaj Party out of the four were also absent without any explanation and same was case with the K D Singh of the TMC who “suddenly developed high BP.” The TMC leadership is considering to issue him with a show cause notice. Beni Prasad Verma of the Samajwadi Party was also absent in the Rajya Sabha. One member of the Congress Party Mukut Mithi also absented at the time of voting.

There are 240 members in Rajya Sabha at present with five vacancies. The AIADMK (11), Biju Janata Dal (7), TDP (2) and several others lent the helping hand to the BJP in smooth passage of the bill. But the chinks were exposed in the Opposition camp making the PM Modi and Amit Shah to smile.

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BJP MPs force Arm Act Bill Deferred

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

Lokmat Special

BJP MPs force Arm Act Bill Deferred

Minister Harsimrat Badal raised concerns

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 8

The Modi government buckled under the pressure of its own lawmakers and decided to dump the Arms (Amendment) Bill, 2019 introduced with much fanfare in Lok Sabha last month end.

It transpires that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had brushed aside voices of concerns even in the crucial meeting of the Union Cabinet where the bill was brought for clearance. Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal had pointed out that the certain clauses of the bill particularly relating to one license one fire arm be reconsidered. The PM wondered as to why one would need more than one firearm in self defense. Once the Cabinet cleared the bill, Union Home Ministry went ahead and bill was introduced in the Lok Sabha on November 29. It was set to be passed the same day. But all hell broke and a large number of BJP MPs rushed to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Om Birla, pointing out that this will seriously affect the safety and security of people in trouble-torn states. The MPs belonging to the Rajput and landed community said that they are in possession of  antique and precious firearms in their palatial bungalows mostly as show pieces for centuries. These should not be clubbed with the new policy.  

The Bill seeks to amend the Arms Act, 1959 aimed at  decreasing the number of licensed firearms allowed per person and increase penalties for certain offences under the Act.  The Bill reduces the number of permitted firearms from three to one. This includes licenses given on inheritance or heirloom basis. The Bill provides a time period of one year to deposit the excess firearms with the nearest police station or the dealer as specified.

The Bill increases the punishment for offences between seven years and life imprisonment along with a fine. It also prohibits using firearms in a celebratory gunfire which endangers human life or personal safety of others.

It is learnt that a high-level meeting took place in the government and it was decided that let the Arm Act (Amendment ) Bill 2019 be deferred for this session. 

Citizenship Bill on Monday in Lok Sabha !

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

special report 

Citizenship Bill on Monday in Lok Sabha !

Numbers stares at Govt. in Rajya Sabha

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 4

The government is all set to bring the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill or CAB, on Monday in Lok Sabha, December 9.

The new bill cleared by the Union Cabinet on Wednesday morning has new safeguards to protect the culture & heritage of the Assamese people to meet the aspiration of the people there. It also takes into account some of the ethnic groups interest in Northeastern states.

The bill was first tabled by the Modi government in Lok Sabha in 2016 and was referred to a Joint Parliamentary Committee. The JPC took three full years and submitted its report in January this year. The Bill was passed in the Lok Sabha but parliament ended in February without the proposed law getting Rajya Sabha clearance. It lapsed thereafter.

Now the government would like to get the CAB cracking on Monday itself and ensure that it goes to the Rajya Sabha the next day. The Parliament's session ends on December 13 and this is the most crucial agenda for the government.

The government will have a huge difficulty in Rajya Sabha in getting the bill passed as situation is no good.

The bill seeks to make it easier for non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan to become citizens of India. he bill was passed by the Lok Sabha in January but lapsed without being cleared in Rajya Sabha. 

No Early Cabinet Expansion in Maharashtra ?

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

special report

No Early Cabinet Expansion in Maharashtra ?

New inductions after Nagpur session  

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 1

The suspense over estranged nephew Ajit Pawar’s induction into the Uddhav Thackeray government will continue for some more time. It transpires that the next expansion of the Maharashtra Cabinet will take place only after the Nagpur session of the State Assembly. The Session is likely to be held between December 16 to 21.

Sources say that the top leadership of the alliance partners comprising of NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray and Congress leaders felt that the next expansion be held only after the Nagpur session of the Assembly. The induction of ministers from all the three parties and a couple of others may wait as Uddhav wants to initiate a series of steps for the welfare of the people immediately.

The two core committees – one for the Cabinet and the other for alliance partners – are also to be set up first so that better coordination could be evolved at all levels.

Secondly, Ajit Pawar continues to have certain reservations and wants more time to settle down in the new situation. He plans to visit his constituency.

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No Early Cabinet Expansion in Maharashtra ?

by Harish Gupta, National Editor, Lokmat Group

special report

No Early Cabinet Expansion in Maharashtra ?

New inductions after Nagpur session  

Harish Gupta

New Delhi, Dec 1

The suspense over estranged nephew Ajit Pawar’s induction into the Uddhav Thackeray government will continue for some more time. It transpires that the next expansion of the Maharashtra Cabinet will take place only after the Nagpur session of the State Assembly. The Session is likely to be held between December 16 to 21.

Sources say that the top leadership of the alliance partners comprising of NCP Chief Sharad Pawar, Sena Chief Uddhav Thackeray and Congress leaders felt that the next expansion be held only after the Nagpur session of the Assembly. The induction of ministers from all the three parties and a couple of others may wait as Uddhav wants to initiate a series of steps for the welfare of the people immediately.

The two core committees – one for the Cabinet and the other for alliance partners – are also to be set up first so that better coordination could be evolved at all levels.

Secondly, Ajit Pawar continues to have certain reservations and wants more time to settle down in the new situation. He plans to visit his constituency.

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