New Delhi: Addressing a press conference at the National Media Centre here Tuesday, Union Home Minister Amit Shah gave a clean chit to Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh while also setting aside speculation that the latter might resign. Shah also told reporters that the process to conduct the decennial census will be initiated “very soon”, and did not rule out the possibility of the exercise including a ‘caste’ column.
The demand for a nationwide caste census has been raised not just by opposition parties, but also constituents of the ruling NDA, particularly Nitish Kumar’s JD(U) and Chirag Paswan’s LJP.
During the press conference marking 100 days of the third NDA government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Shah while sitting alongside I&B and Railways Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw also praised Modi’s record on foreign policy and national security, and spoke of the Centre’s plan to prevent railway accidents.
The interaction, during which Shah also released a booklet highlighting key takeaways from the first 100 days of Modi’s third term, coincided with the PM’s 74th birthday.
Shah also told reporters that the government is determined to implement ‘One Nation, One Election’ in this term.
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On Manipur & Biren Singh
Asked about the situation in Manipur and speculation that the chief minister might step down over criticism of his handling of the ongoing crisis, Shah quipped: “Who is saying he (Singh) is resigning?”
The speculation that Singh may resign gathered steam after his two back-to-back visits to the Raj Bhavan in Imphal in less than 24 hours the week before last.
On Biren Singh’s handling of the situation, Shah said that the state has largely been able to control violence in the past three months with the exception of some incidents. The BJP government in Manipur, he added, is speaking to both communities at odds with each other—Kukis and Meiteis.
An exercise is underway to fence off the India-Myanmar border, with 30 kilometres already complete, he said, adding that the central government has approved the budget to put up fences all along the 1,500-km border.
“Additionally, we have successfully launched the deployment of CRPF at strategic locations in the region,” said Shah. He also reiterated that entry into India from Myanmar is now only permitted on a visa.
On caste census
On the question of the much-delayed decennial census, Shah said the government will make an announcement about it “very soon”.
Last conducted in 2011, the census was expected to be held in 2021 but had to be postponed on account of the COVID-19 pandemic.
When asked about whether the government is considering the demand to conduct a caste census along the decadal exercise, Shah said such details will be made public only once the process to conduct the census begins.
The BJP, which was able to muster up a parliamentary majority earlier this year only with the help of its allies, is facing pressure from within the NDA to conduct a nationwide caste census.
On foreign policy & political stability
During the press conference Tuesday, Shah said the Prime Minister has strengthened India’s international standing and taken measures to shore up national security. As many as 15 countries have bestowed their highest honours on the Prime Minister, said Shah.
He added that under Modi, India’s foreign policy is now more assertive.
The country, he went on to say, is experiencing such political stability for the first time in 60 years. “… there is an atmosphere of political stability in the country and we have also experienced continuity of policies.”
On rail accidents
In the backdrop of a series of rail accidents earlier this year, Shah said the government is committed to enhancing safety of the railway network. Laying out a plan to avert mishaps, he said agencies including the CBI, NIA and RPF have been entrusted with the task to prevent potential sabotage.
On infra push, employment
The third NDA government, said Shah, has made strides towards approving new infrastructure, stimulating growth and providing new employment opportunities to young Indians, in its first 100 days in office.
These strides rest on 14 pillars, he told reporters.
Projects worth an estimated Rs 3 lakh crore were announced and have already entered the implementation phase, he said. Among others, Shah made a point to make mention of the proposed deep-sea port in Maharashtra’s Vadhavan, being built at an estimated Rs 76,000 crore.
He also spoke about the government’s Make-in-India and Digital India initiatives, besides the Swachh Bharat Mission and the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana. “Our goal is that when we go into elections the next time, there would be no one who does not own a house,” he said.
(Edited by Amrtansh Arora)
