Prashant Kishor suggests 2 ways to stop CAA, NRC implementation
New Delhi: When the nation is speculating what's next after the anti-CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) uproar, Janata Dal (United) vice-president Prashant Kishor took to Twitter to suggest effective ways that can "stop the implementation of CAA and NRC [National Register of Citizens]".
Prashant Kishor mentioned two ways in his tweet on Sunday: One -- " Keep protesting peacefully by raising your voice on all platforms" -- and the other -- "Ensure most if not all of the 16 Non BJP CMs say NO to NRC in their states".
"Everything else important as they may is largely tokenism," Prashant Kishor tweeted.
Two effective ways to stop the implementation of #CAA_NRC are;
— Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) December 22, 2019
(1) Keep protesting peacefully by raising your voice on all platforms, &
(2) Ensure most if not ALL of the 16 Non BJP CMs say NO to NRC in their states.
Everything else important as they may is largely tokenism.
Prashant Kishore has been vocal about his opposition to the amended Citizenship Act and the NRC, which he said is a "lethal combo" in the hands of government to "systematically discriminate and even prosecute people on religion"
He had even asked chief ministers from neutral and opposition parties to take a stand against the central government's controversial policies on citizenship and immigrant naturalisation.
"Non-BJP" chief ministers must save "the soul of India" after the Citizenship (Amendment) Act was approved by Parliament and signed into law this week, Prashant Kishor had said on Friday.
Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Bhagel are among the non-BJP chief ministers who have opposed the Citizenship Amendment Act.
Prashant Kishor has also condemned the violence at Delhi's Jamia Milia Islamia (JMI)during protests against the CAA.
Taking a dig at Delhi Police for clashing with Jamia students last week over anti-CAA protests, Prashant Kishor said, "Look at the non-violence, bravery, and professionalism of Delhi Police against the "alleged" lawbreakers!"
Though several JD(U) politicians have lashed out at Prashant Kishor over his stance, he has avoided making any retaliatory comments. He also told Hindustan Times that Nitish Kumar has asked him to not pay heed to such criticism.
The Citizenship Amendment act has raged widespread protests across the nation with lakhs of people including students and activists taking to streets their voices against the Narendra Modi government.
Recently, several parts of the country were under lockdown -- with internet snapped, metro stations closed, heavy police deployment and blocked roads. Public and private properties were also vandalised and set afire amid protests.
Several have lost their lives as protests turned violent in many states. More than 1,500 protesters have been arrested across India in the past 10 days and over 1,000 have been taken under custody.
Courtesy: www.indiatoday.in
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PM Modi holds talks with Dutch counterpart Jetten; discusses trade, investment
The Hague (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held wide-ranging talks with his Dutch counterpart Rob Jetten, focusing on trade, investment, and critical technologies.
Modi arrived in the Netherlands on Friday on the second leg of his five-nation tour. This is his second trip to the Netherlands, following his visit in 2017.
Ahead of the bilateral talks, Modi, along with Jetten, held discussions with prominent CEOs of leading Dutch companies across various sectors such as energy, ports, health, agriculture trade, and technology, among others.
Modi invited Dutch companies to explore opportunities in India, particularly in maritime, renewable energy, digital technologies, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and healthcare sectors.
"We are continuously reducing compliance and increasing the ease of doing business. We have recently carried out next-generation reforms in taxation, labour code, and governance," he told the business leaders.
The prime minister added that manufacturing in India is becoming very cost-effective, and in the services sector, it has become the engine of efficiency and innovation.
"We invite all of you to design and innovate in India. There can be no better time for this than today," he said.
"Today's India is a symbol of scale and stability. In terms of scale, we are also the fastest-growing major economy in the world and the world's largest talent pool. Infrastructure, clean energy or connectivity – no one in the world can match India's speed," Modi said.
"And on the subject of stability, I have completed 12 years of serving as the Prime Minister of the world's largest democracy. In these 12 years, with continuous reforms, we have transformed our economic DNA. Our direction has been clear – to give policy predictability to the private sector and increase opportunities for them," he added.
Modi said his government has opened up every sector for the private sector, be it space, mining or nuclear energy.
Ahead of the meeting, an agreement between ASML and Tata Electronics was signed in the presence of the two leaders.
The two prime ministers also called for early implementation of the India-EU-FTA.
Earlier, Prime Minister Modi met King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima at the Royal Palace and discussed close cooperation in digital technology, innovation, fintech and blue economy.
PM Modi's visit will build on the momentum of high-level engagements and close cooperation spanning diverse sectors, including defence, security, innovation, green hydrogen, semiconductors and a strategic partnership on water, the MEA said ahead of his visit.
The Netherlands is one of India's largest trade destinations in Europe, with bilateral trade worth USD 27.8 billion in 2024-25. The European nation is India's fourth-largest investor with cumulative foreign direct investment of USD 55.6 billion.
From the Netherlands, the prime minister will travel to Sweden for a two-day trip from May 17 to 18.
