Cong steps up attack on Modi government on NRC

A day after treading cautiously over the National Register of Citizens issue, Congress on Tuesday stepped up the heat on the Modi government by likening it to the British East India Company for following the policy of divide and rule.

“Amit Shah & Company are the virulent inheritors of the British East India Company. ‘Divide and rule’, ‘spread venomous hate’ and ‘decimate India’s brotherhood’ to garner votes is their principle agenda,” Randeep Singh Surjewala, in-charge of the AICC Communication Department said in New Delhi.

The sharp stand comes a day after the Congress had struck a cautious approach on the missing 40 lakh names in the NRC and questioned only procedures adopted to draft the citizens' register.

The then prime minister Rajiv Gandhi had signed the Assam Accord in 1985, which is considered to be the genesis of the NRC.

Congress president Rahul Gandhi too had sought to credit prime minister Manmohan Singh-led UPA government with initiating the NRC process.

In contrast, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee took a strident stand on the issue by accusing the BJP of pursuing the policy of divide and rule.

After BJP President Amit Shah's sharp attack accusing the Congress of lacking the courage to implement the NRC, the Congress came out all guns blazing against the Modi government.

“NRC started by Congress to distinguish between Indians and foreigners. NRC released by BJP mixes up Indians and foreigner in the same list,” Gaurav Gogoi, Lok Sabha member from Assam said in New Delhi.

“Critical exercise has been compromised by BJP despite spending crores of money. Indian citizens security sacrificed for political aims of BJP,” said Gogoi, the AICC in-charge of West Bengal.

Surjewala also hit out at the BJP for taking “fake credit” for NRC in Assam and bringing in the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill; both of which are contrarian in spirit.

“Will Amit Shah answer that,” he asked.

Surjewala also drew out the contrast in the statement of Home Minister Rajnath Singh, who had told Lok Sabha that the Centre had nothing to do with the NRC which was executed under the supervision of the Supreme court.

“Amit Shah falsifies the statement of his Home Minister made in Parliament by lame-duck credit seeking for implementing NRC. Who is lying? Rajnath Singh or Amit Shah,” Surjewala asked.

“NRC was aimed at reflecting the aspirations of Assamese people and not as a tool to divide the society, which BJP Govt is making it out to be. History will never pardon the ilk of Modi-Amit Shah for distorting the entire process for opportunistic political gain,” Surjewala said.