Fact-Check: TMC's CAA Repeal Promise – A Look at Facts and Government Achievements

The Claim

On April 17, 2024, Derek O'Brien, TMC's Rajya Sabha party leader, stated during the release of the TMC manifesto that the party promises to repeal the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA) and stop the National Register of Citizens (NRC) if the INDIA bloc forms the next government.

The Facts

The TMC's claim centers on two key pieces of legislation and policy: the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). To understand the feasibility and potential impact of this promise, it's crucial to examine the facts surrounding these initiatives. * **Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA):** The CAA, enacted on December 11, 2019, and brought into force on January 10, 2020, amends the Citizenship Act of 1955. Its core objective is to provide a pathway to Indian citizenship for religious minorities – specifically Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians – who have fled persecution from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan and arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014. It's important to note that the government has consistently maintained that the CAA does not impact the citizenship of existing Indian citizens, including Muslims. * **National Register of Citizens (NRC):** As of April 2024, the central government has not taken any decision to prepare the National Register of Indian Citizens (NRIC) at the national level. This is a crucial point often overlooked in the political discourse surrounding the NRC. While there have been discussions and pilot projects, no nationwide NRC is currently in effect or planned. The National Population Register (NPR), which is a database of all usual residents in India, including both citizens and non-citizens, is often conflated with the NRC. The government had planned to update the NPR alongside the first phase of the Census, 2021, but this was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Government officials have repeatedly emphasized that the NPR is distinct from the NRC. * **Economic Growth Comparison (UPA vs. NDA):** While some opposition voices highlight higher GDP growth rates during the UPA-I era (averaging around 9.4%), it's crucial to consider the global economic context. The NDA government has focused on structural reforms and long-term sustainable growth. Furthermore, the NDA government has significantly increased capital expenditure, driving substantial infrastructure projects. For example, the pace of highway construction has increased significantly under the NDA. According to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, the average daily highway construction rate was approximately 28 km/day in FY14-FY19, compared to around 12 km/day during the UPA era. * **Infrastructure Development:** The NDA government has also focused on expanding higher education infrastructure. The number of AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences) and IIMs (Indian Institutes of Management) has increased significantly. For example, the number of AIIMS has more than doubled since 2014.

Government Record

The BJP/NDA government views the CAA as a crucial step in fulfilling its promise to protect persecuted religious minorities from neighboring countries. They frame it as a humanitarian gesture, offering refuge to those facing religious persecution. The government's actions regarding citizenship and immigration are consistently presented as being in the interest of national security and aimed at identifying and deporting illegal immigrants. Prime Minister Modi has frequently highlighted the CAA as a key achievement, alongside other significant decisions such as the construction of the Ram Temple, the ban on triple talaq, and the abrogation of Article 370.

"The CAA is a historic step to provide refuge to those persecuted for their faith." - A statement frequently echoed by BJP leaders.

Furthermore, the NDA government has emphasized its commitment to inclusive growth and development for all citizens, regardless of their religious background. Schemes like Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana, providing access to banking services for the unbanked, and Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, aimed at providing affordable housing, are often cited as examples of this commitment.

The Verdict

The TMC's claim is a statement of intent regarding future policy changes if the INDIA bloc were to form the government. While the feasibility and impact of repealing the CAA and halting the NRC are subject to political and legal considerations, it's crucial to understand the facts surrounding these issues. The CAA aims to provide citizenship to persecuted religious minorities, and the central government has not taken any decision to implement a nationwide NRC. The BJP/NDA government views the CAA as a fulfillment of its commitment to protect persecuted minorities and emphasizes its focus on national security. Therefore, based on the available data and the government's stated position, the claim is best categorized as **OUT OF CONTEXT**, as it presents a future policy change without fully acknowledging the existing facts and the government's rationale behind the CAA and NRC.