Non-BJP-ruled states object to NPR methodology at MHA meet  

States raised strong objections over the NPR at the meeting called by Ministry of home affairs on Friday.

Non-BJP states questioned the new methodology to be adopted in the National Population Register exercise by the central government.

Non-BJP states questioned the new methodology to be adopted in the National Population Register exercise by the central government.

Inspite of the mass scale protests against the CAA,NRC and NPR, government seems adamant to carry out the exercise for National Population Register from April 1 to September 30.

Congress ruled states, West Bengal, Kerala have already shown strong opposition to the NPR as it intends to be the database for the controversial NRC.

Government has been ignoring all protests and concerns regarding CAA,NRC and now in a haste wants to start the process for NPR.

At MHA meet all non-BJP states unanimously announced that NPR will not be taken up until the objections and concerns are dealt with.

Rajasthan Chief Secretary D B Gupta said he and the representatives of a few other states raised objections to a few questions to be asked by enumerators to people during the NPR exercise.

"BJP has made the NPR unacceptable with impractical questions like the birth place of parents. Representatives questioned the relevance of such questions."

"I don't know what is the purpose of such questions and we have told the meeting to remove such questions," Gupta told reporters after the meeting.

An official from Kerala told the meeting that the state has put on hold the NPR exercise and it can be part of the process only after the concerns of the state are addressed by the Centre.

Rajasthan is ruled by the Congress, which has announced its opposition to the NPR exercise, while Kerala has a Left government.

Assemblies of Kerala and Punjab have adopted resolutions announcing their opposition to the exercise.

The conference was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai and attended by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla, chief secretaries and census directors of many states.

A few states were represented by principal secretary, instead of the chief secretary. No official from the West Bengal government attended the meeting.

The MHA meet completely failed to justify the flaws of the exercise with comes as a prelude to NRC.The NPR stands challenged with the strong united voices of the states against it.