CPI Leader Gives Breach of Privilege Notice to Amit Shah Over ‘Flip Flop’ on NRC

New Delhi: Binoy Viswam, the parliamentary party leader of the Communist Party of India (CPI), has given a ‘breach of privilege’ notice for a motion against Union Home Minister Amit Shah to the Rajya Sabha.

The CPI member of Rajya Sabha has accused Shah of misleading the House by making contradictory statements on the National Register of Citizens (NRC), “posing a threat not only to the Constitution of India but also to the safety and security of the people.”

The breach of privilege motion, sent on January 7, to the Secretary General, Rajya Sabha, says the Home Minister’s “back and forth” statements had also caused “anguish and anxiety” among people across the country.

Listing various datesof various statements made by the Home Minister on the floor of both Houses, Viswam alleged that such statements were a breach of privilege.

In his letter, the CPI leader said Shah, in a reply to a question in the Upper House on November 20, 2019, had stated that NRC would be re-implemented in Assam when it is implemented across the country, ‘thereby indicating a plan for the implementation of a nationwide NRC process’.

The Home Minister repeated this on the floor of the Lok Sabha on December 9, 2019, listing similar statements made by Shah at least nine times in both houses of Parliament as well as on several public platforms.

In an interview on December 24, Shah, however, backtracked on his earlier statements after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on December 22, 2019 that the government has not yet taken any decision on the implementation of a nationwide NRC, alleged Viswam, as per a report in Deccan Herald.

‘Such contradictory statements are a clear breach of privilege and an attempt to mislead both Houses of the Parliament and the people of India.

The CPI leader also blamed the “contradictory messaging of the government” for over 20 lives being lost during the ongoing nationwide protests, and urged the House to take notice of this “breach of privilege and ensue proceedings in this regard.”