BJD not to support NRC , says Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik

Bhubaneswar : Biju Janata Dal (BJD) president and Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Wednesday made it clear that his party will not support the National Register of Citizens (NRC) but backed the amended citizenship law, noting that it applies only to foreigners.

The chief Minister also appealed to the people of Odisha to maintain peace and not to indulge in rumour-mongering.

” The Citizenship Amendment Act has nothing to do with Indian Citizens, it only deals with foreigners. The Biju Janata Dal MPs both in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have made it clear that we do not support the NRC,” the Chief Minister told reporters before leaving for the national capital.

Patnaik would attend the second meeting of the committee for commemoration of 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in New Delhi on Thursday.

The Chief Minister’s statement came a day after people protesting the Act took out a peaceful rally in the state capital and urged the State government’s stance clear on the amended citizenship law and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Last week, the Chief Minister had assured the Muslim community that his government will not implement the NRC in the state.