Kerala Government Reaffirms Stance Against National Population Register Implementation
The CPI(M)-led Kerala government has issued a formal order declaring that the National Population Register (NPR) will not be implemented in the state. This move comes shortly after the Union Budget allocated Rs 6,000 crore for the NPR and Census 2027, highlighting ongoing tensions between the state and central governments over citizenship-related policies.
Notification Details and Historical Context
On February 5, through an extraordinary gazette notification, the Kerala government stated that all activities connected with the updation of the NPR in the state are suspended effective from December 20, 2019. This date coincides with the implementation of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) in India, which has been a point of contention since its passage.
The NPR is defined as the enumeration of usual residents in the country. Following the CAA's enactment in 2019, concerns were raised that it could lead to the National Register of Citizens (NRC), with opposition parties alleging it aimed to deprive certain minorities of citizenship.
Union Budget Allocation and State Response
The Union Budget presented last Sunday allocated Rs 6,000 crore under "Census, Survey and Statistics/Registrar General of India (RGI)," which includes provisions for the NPR and Census 2027. Of this amount, Rs 218 crore is designated as capital expenditure.
In response, a communication from the Kerala Chief Minister's Office clarified that the state had already ordered a halt to all NPR-related procedures in 2019, alongside the Census. The statement emphasized that it is the "professed policy of the state government that NPR will not be implemented in Kerala at any cost." With the Census scheduled to begin next year, rumors have circulated that the NPR might be conducted concurrently, prompting the new order to reaffirm the government's opposition.
Political and Legal Background
Kerala has been at the forefront of resistance against the CAA, being the first state Assembly in India to pass a resolution against it. The state government has also filed a petition in the Supreme Court, arguing that the CAA is unconstitutional. The latest NPR order is described as upholding the government's "unequivocal stand" against the register, reinforcing its commitment to this position amid ongoing debates.
This development underscores the deepening divide between Kerala and the central government on issues of citizenship and population registration, with potential implications for federal relations and upcoming census activities.
