GUWAHATI, Aug 2 - Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister and senior BJP leader Shivraj Singh Chouhan today said the NRC process should be replicated across the country.
�NRC should be for the entire country. India is not a dharmashala that any illegal immigrant will come and stay here,� Singh said during a press conference here.
Asked about the Centre and the State government�s recent affidavits in the Supreme Court seeking re-verification of 20 per cent of the names included in the draft NRC, Chouhan said, �The government must have considered the matter before approaching the apex court on the matter. However, as the NRC update process in Assam is being monitored by the Supreme Court, I would prefer not to comment on the issue.�
It is noteworthy that BJP president and Union Home Minister Amit Shah also earlier said the Centre is committed to implementing the NRC at the national level.
Chouhan, who is also the national vice president of the BJP, is on a tour of the North-Eastern States to shore up the party's ongoing membership drive.
He said along with the rest of the country, the people of Assam and the North-East also decisively backed the BJP in the recent Lok Sabha polls.
Chouhan said the Opposition parties are in disarray and accused Rahul Gandhi, who has already submitted his resignation as president of the Congress party, of trying to �be the first to jump from a sinking ship despite himself being the captain of the vessel�.
He said since winning the elections, the Narendra Modi-led Central government has taken one big decision after another for the development of the country.
Chouhan said the passage of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Amendment (UAPA) Bill, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha today, shows BJP�s commitment to eliminate terrorism from the country.
�Unfortunately, the Congress party always tries to create hurdles on such matters,� said the three-time former chief minister of Madhya Pradesh.
He added that the Triple Talaq legislation will ensure justice to Muslim women.
The senior BJP leader added that the Centre is working to develop the communication network in the North-East and mentioned that the Centre is focusing on the development of Highways, Internet ways, Railways and Airways. He said Central funding for the North-Eastern States has jumped manifold during the Modi dispensation.
Chouhan said as part of the ongoing membership drive, the BJP will try to get into touch with every family in Assam and added that a major plantation drive will also be taken up in conjunction with the process of inducting new members.
