Chandigarh: After Assam, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday announced that the National Register of Citizens will be implemented in the state.
“We will implement NRC in Haryana,” Khattar told reporters in Panchkula after meeting Justice H S Bhalla (retd) and former Navy chief Admiral Sunil Lanba at their residences here.
Khattar met them under his party’s “Maha Sampark Abhiyan” ahead of state polls in October. He had previously too supported NRC implementation across the country.
Interacting with reporters after meeting Justice Bhalla, a retired high court judge, Khattar said, “I met them under Maha Sampark Abhiyan where we meet prominent citizens.”
“When we meet, the talk revolves around how to take country forward and other such issues,” he said.
He said Justice Bhalla has taken up many assignments after his retirement.
“He is also working on NRC and will visit Assam soon. I said that we will implement NRC in Haryana and have sought Bhalla ji’s support and suggestion,” he said.
On August 31, the final NRC in Assam was released, leaving out 19 lakh people.
The process of NRC update was started in Assam following a Supreme Court order in 2013 and since then, the apex court has closely monitored the entire process.
However, several political parties, including the BJP in the northeastern state, have voiced their dissatisfaction with the final document.
On Sunday, Khattar also said the Haryana government will look into the feasibility of setting up a Law Commission.
“He (Justice Bhalla) suggested that a Law Commission should be set up in Haryana. The government will look into the feasibility of setting up of this commission,” Khattar said.
Also read: NRC over, Assam govt & poll panel must now ensure there is no ‘eligible voter’ among 19 lakh
Illegal immigration from Bangladesh is not an emotive issue in Haryana, as it has been in the north east. If at the end of a process of determination which is more orderly and credible than it has been in Assam, a few thousand illegal immigrants are detected, the question will arise where these people will be deported to. Notwithstanding the assurances that have been given to the government of Bangladesh that deportations will not take, this issue will cause disquiet. It could be misused by the opposition and anti India forces. Perhaps the Home and External Affairs ministries could work jointly on coming to an agreed position.