Rajnath tells RS no discrimination in NRC

Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday assured the Rajya Sabha that there will be no discrimination in finalising the Assam National Register of Citizen while accusing vested interests of trying to create an atmosphere of fear and communal harmony on social media.

Responding to concerns raised by MPs, he said no Indian citizen will be left out from the NRC. "The whole process (adopted for NRC) is fair and objective. There has not been any discrimination. I want to assure that there will not be any discrimination in the future as well. It is not fair if someone makes such allegations," Singh said.

Seeking cooperation of parties, he said there will not be any coercive action against anyone and all those do not find their name in the NRC draft list will have an opportunity to provide required documents to include in the list.

"It is unfortunate that an atmosphere of fear has been created. Some confusion has been created through some people. Propaganda has been carried out through vested interest on social media to internationalise the issue and disturb the communal harmony," he said.

Some of the MPs sought some clarifications after Singh's speech. Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu asked whether former prime minister Manmohan Singh would like to comment as the home minister had taken his name. However, Singh did not speak.

The leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the government, as well as the ruling party, should speak in one language and that there should not be any compromise on national security.