Across India, demonstrations are taking place against National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Opposition parties like Congress and Samajwadi Party (SP) are relentlessly trying to corner the government.
To know more about what the opposition is planning, Anurag Sason has an in-depth conversation with Samajwadi Party MLA from Karchana (Uttar Pradesh) Mr Ujjwal Raman Singh.
Here are important excerpts from the exclusive interview: (Scroll down to watch the complete interview)
Q1) What is Samajwadi Party’s take over NRC and CAA?
Ujjwal Raman Singh: NRC and CAA are unconstitutional. Both are against the country and hence Samajwadi party is against both of these. We will oppose it not only on the streets but also in the Parliament.
Q2) PM Narendra Modi has made it clear that CAA or NRC has nothing to do with the minorities of India, then why these demonstrations?
Ujjwal Raman Singh: See Prime Minister Narendra Modi says one thing and home minister, on the floor of the Parliament, says other thing. The entire country has listened to what Amit Shah has said. Three things are taking place in the country right now-CAA, NRC and National Population Register (NPR). These three are not different and BJP will implement them one after the other.
Q3) Videos have surfaced which showed that protesters don’t know what they are protesting against, they don’t even know the full form of NRC. Don’t you think it’s shocking?
Ujjwal Raman Singh: Common party workers are protesting against those things which are unconstitutional. I accept that some people are unable to understand the minute details of these. The reason is the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has puzzled the people. BJP is trying to divert people’s attention from important issues like unemployment and farmer distress.
Q4) Cabinet has recently passed the budget for the National Population Register (NPR). Your comments.
Ujjwal Raman Singh: These three (NRC, CAA and NPR) are complements and supplements of each other nothing else.
Q5) UP CM Yogi Adityanath recently announced that properties of those who indulged in violence will be seized. Your comments on this.
Ujjwal Raman Singh: Targeting one particular community is not a good thing. If UP CM wants to take such kind of a step then he should also confiscate the property of those who were involved in Gorakhpur riots in 2007.
Q6) How you see the tenure of UP CM Yogi Adityanath?
Ujjwal Raman Singh: I see the tenure of UP CM as unsuccessful. The state government has failed on law and order front. What happened in Unnao is thought-provoking. It is a serious issue.
Q7) Your comments on Jharkhand poll results.
Ujjwal Raman Singh: Jharkhand poll results are an indication that a change is taking place in the country.
Q8) What is the major challenge(s) the country is facing today?
Ujjwal Raman Singh: Economic slowdown is a big issue right now. Even a country like Bangladesh is ahead of us on social parameters. In the days to come, the youth will reject the BJP.
WATCH FULL INTERVIEW
About the author: Anurag Sason is journalist with more than 7 years of experience in mainstream journalism. He has worked in newspaper, news agency, TV and digital media. Presently, he is working as Senior Editor-News in Likee app. He tweets at @AnuragSason
For variety of videos click here
For interviews click here
Click here to directly go to Anurag K Sason’s YouTube channel which has more than 3.1 million views.
Interview is taken in the personal capacity
Anurag Sason 