New Delhi, Feb 22 Senior Congress leader and former Union Minister Manish Tewari on Saturday said that Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray requires a briefing on Citizenship Amendment Rules - 2003, to understand how National Population Register (NPR) is the basis of National Register of Citizens (NRC) and "religion" cannot be basis of citizenship.
In a tweet, Tewari said, "CM Maharashtra Uddhav Thackeray requires a briefing on Citizenship Amendment Rules - 2003 to understand how NPR is basis of NRC. Once you do NPR, you cannot stop NRC. On Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), he needs to be reacquainted with design of Indian Constitution that religion cannot be basis of Citizenship," he said.
His remarks came a day after Thackeray met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and said that no body should feel threatened by the CAA or NPR as these measures are not meant to drive away anyone from the country.
Thackeray made the remarks at a press conference held after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday here, the first after he took over as the Chief Minister.
"We discussed CAA and NPR," Thackeray said, adding he has come to understand the role of the Centre in the NRC.
"No one should fear CAA or the NPR. These are not going to throw anyone out of the country," Thackeray said. "Those who are provoking people in the name of CAA or NPR must fully understand the provisions."
Thackeray also refuted reports about rift among the constituents of the Maha Vikas Aghadi. "We will work according to our common minimum programme and complete the full term", he said.
However, the remarks of the Congress leader clearly indicated that the grand old, which is one of the alliance partners in the state government was unhappy with the statement of the Shiv Sena chief. Reportedly, the NCP led by Sharad Pawar is also upset with the Chief Minister's stand of NPR and CAA.
( With inputs from IANS )