The Union Cabinet on Tuesday approved around Rs 12,700 crore for the Census 2021 and the National Population Register (NPR). The government also clarified that NPR has no connection with the controversial NRC. On Tuesday, Home Minister Amit Shah also reiterated in an interview with news agency ANI that there is no connection between NPR and NRC.However, several reports indicate that the government previously said NPR is the first step towards conducting nationwide NRC.
- In Parliament, on July 8, 2014, in a written reply to a question by Congress MP Rajeev Satav, then MoS Home Kiren Rijiju said, “The scheme of NPR has been reviewed and it has been decided that NPR should be completed and taken to its logical conclusion, which is creation of NRIC by verification of citizenship status of every usual resident in the NPR.”
- On July 15 and July 22 again, Rijiju linked NPR and NRIC on similar lines during question hour in Lok Sabha.
- On July 23, he made the same statements in Rajya Sabha.
- On November 29, 2014, Rijiju told Rajya Sabha: “The NPR is the first step towards creation of National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) by verifying the citizenship status of every usual resident.”
- On April 21 and July 28, 2015 the Minister of State Haribhai Parthibhai Chowdhury reiterated the 'logical consequence' statement in Lok Sabha during the question hour.
- Rijiju also said in the Rajya Sabha on November 11, 2016, during the question hour, 'The government has approved the creation of a population registration that will have information about usual residents in the country. Preparation of population registration is a part of National Register of Indian Citizens.