Lok Sabha Question No. 178 (STARRED), answered on 2020-03-03
Subject: Confidence Building Measures for CAA and NRC
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Rita Bahuguna Joshi, Dinesh Chandra Yadav

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *178

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 03 RD  MARCH, 2020/ PHALGUNA 13, 1941 (SAKA)

CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES FOR CAA AND NRC

*178.           SHRIMATI RITA BAHUGUNA JOSHI: SHRI DINESH CHANDRA YADAV:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  whether  the  Government  has  taken  adequate  confidence  building  measures for infusing trust among the people with regard to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC);

(b) if so, the details thereof;

(c)  the  measures  undertaken  by  the  Government  for  containing  the  situation  in this regard in Delhi;

(d) whether the Government is contemplating to make the common people aware of the facts regarding the CAA by holding talks with all the parties and also by organizing discussion sessions; and

(e) if so, the details thereof?

ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (e): A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN THE REPLY TO PARTS (a) to  (e)  OF THE LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. 178 FOR 03.03.2020 REGARDING CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURES FOR CAA AND NRC.

The  Citizenship  (Amendment)  Bill,  2016  (CAB)  was  introduced  in  Parliament  in July, 2016 to facilitate grant of citizenship to migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Afghanistan, Pakistan and Bangladesh who have entered India on or before 31.12.2014 and who have been exempted by the Central Government by or under clause (c) of sub-section (2) of section 3 of the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920 or from the application of provisions of the Foreigners Act, 1946 or any rule or order made thereunder.

CAB was referred  to  a  Joint  Parliamentary  Committee  (JPC)  which  considered about 9000 memoranda received from organisations/associations/common public, undertook  study  visits  to  different  parts  of  India  and  held  formal  and  informal discussions with the representatives of stakeholders. It presented its report to Parliament  on  07/01/2019.  However,  the  Bill  lapsed  after  its  passing  by  Lok Sabha.

Subsequently, The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, 2019 (CAB), which was fundamentally based on the earlier Bill recommended by the JPC, was considered in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha and after debates on various aspects of the Bill, both  the  Houses  of  Parliament  passed  it  on  9th  December,  2019  and  11th December, 2019 respectively. The report of JPC and extensive  debates held in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha are available in public domain.

## LS.S.Q.NO. 178 FOR 03.03.2020

Preparation  of  National  Register  of  Indian  Citizens  (NRIC)  is  governed  by  the provisions  of  section  14A  of  The  Citizenship  Act,  1955  and  The  Citizenship (Registration  of  Citizens  and  Issue  of  National  Identity  Cards)  Rules,  2003. Section 14A of The Citizenship Act, 1955 provides for compulsory registration of every citizen of India and maintenance of NRIC.  This provision was included in the Citizenship Act, 1955 by the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2003 which came into force on 3/12/2004.

Delhi  Police  has  taken  several  steps  to  control  the  law  and  order  situation  in Delhi.    Senior  Police  officers  along  with  adequate  police  force  including  76 companies  of  Central  Armed  Police  Force  were  deployed  at  vulnerable  points. Meetings of the local Peace Committees, Resident Welfare Associations, Market Welfare  Associations,  Civil  Society  Groups,  representatives  of  Political  Parties etc have been held in the affected areas.  More than 120 FIRs have been lodged and  hundreds  of  miscreants  have  been  arrested.    Investigating  Officers  are collecting CCTV footage and seeking out Videos from public to bring the guilty to book.  Prohibitory Orders under Section 144 CrPC are being implemented in riotaffected  areas.    Police  forces  have  conducted  Flag  Marches  in  these  areas  to instill confidence among the people.  A close watch is being kept on social media platforms which may disseminate rumors and unfounded propaganda.  Appeal has been made to people to maintain peace and not to lay any credence to rumors.

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