Bihar NPR From 15 May, Says Sushil Modi; Countered By JD(U) Leader

The Bihar Deputy CM also said that no state could refuse to implement the NPR.

Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Sushil Kumar Modi. 

(File Photo: IANS)

The National Population Register (NPR) will be carried out in Bihar between 15 and 28 May, said Deputy Chief Minister of the state, Sushil Kumar Modi.

“The Centre is just "updating" the NPR 2010 in 2020 just before the 2021 census. The NPR process in 2020 will be carried out between 1 April to 30 September in the country. In Bihar it will be done between 15 May and 28 May 2020”, Modi said, while criticising Chief Ministers of Opposition-led states for refusing to implement NPR.

However, Modi’s assertion was soon questioned by JD(U) leader Shyam Razak who said he was unaware of any such plans regarding the NPR, reported NDTV. Razak added that only Chief Minister Nitish Kumar was a person “competent” enough to make such announcements, adding that Modi might have made those comments at a “personal level”.

This comes at a time when there are reports of tensions between the JD(U) and the BJP and Nitish Kumar’s position in the alliance.

“NPR and NRC are two different things," Modi said, attacking the Opposition, and blamed the Congress and RJD for the confusion around NPR and CAA.

"No state including West Bengal, Kerala, Rajasthan can refuse to implement the CAA or NPR as the Centre has the power to bring legislation over citizenship. Preparing NPR is a statutory provision which no state can refuse to implement”, he added.

(With inputs from PTI and NDTV)