Opposition indulging in vote bank politics over NRC: Amit Shah
New Delhi, July 31: The BJP on Tuesday said the National Register of Citizens (NRC), whose draft was released in Assam on Monday, is a matter of national security for the party and accused the opposition of indulging in vote bank politics.
Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah said the security of the country and its people is the top most priority and dared other parties to clear their stand on Bangladeshi infiltrators.
Addressing a press conference, BJP chief Amit Shah said: "For BJP the matter of NRC is an issue of national security. Our top priority is to safeguard our borders."
He also said that no Indian has been left out of the list. "Those who were not able to prove their citizenship have been left out of the first list," he said.
Reminding the Congress that the NRC was their idea, he said, "The Assam Accord was signed by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi on August 14, 1984. I want to ask the Congress: how can you raise questions about the NRC today?" Shah questioned.
Attacking the opposition parties for creating confusion over the first list of the NRC, Shah said, "Congress, Trinamool Congress and other parties who are speaking against NRC Assam should clear their stand on Bangladeshi infiltrators."
The BJP leader, who is also a Rajya Sabha MP, said the entire process of the NRC was done under the supervision of the Supreme Court and the most transparent process was used to prepare the list.
Slamming the Congress, for not completing the NRC, Shah said, "You didn't have the guts to prepare the list and send back the infiltrators."
"For vote bank politics, how can you question the NRC procedures?" he asked.
He also said that the Congress is known for changing its stand on political issues. "We ask Congress to clear their stand and not indulge in vote bank politics," Shah said.
He said that no country can function if it keeps on allowing infiltrators. "BJP will implement the NRC Assam under the supervision of Supreme Court," he said.
Clarifying that 40 lakh people whose names were not there in the draft NRC were suspected foreigners, he said: "They will have the opportunity to prove their citizenship."
Shah said that the opposition parties are talking about human rights violations of foreigners. "Don't they care about the human rights of the citizens of the country? Isn't it the violation of human rights for the people of Assam, isn't it a violation of national security?" he asked.
"NRC has been brought to protect human rights of all citizens," he said.
Slamming the opposition parties for doing vote bank politics, Shah said, "Vote bank politics should not be placed above national interest. We have never practised vote bank politics. We have always demanded removal of illegal immigrants."
He also accused the opposition parties of trying to portray the BJP as a party trying to divide the country. "But I would like to remind them that Assam Accord was signed by Rajiv Gandhi," he said.
Criticising the TMC Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the BJP Chief said: "This is a sensitive issue. Mamata Banerjee is raking it up for vote bank politics."
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Andhra milk contamination: Death toll rises to 13, seven undergoing treatment
Rajamahendravaram (Andhra Pradesh)(PTI): The death toll in the suspected milk adulteration incident in East Godavari district has risen to 13, while seven persons continue to receive treatment at hospitals in Rajamahendravaram, an official said on Thursday.
Health department officials said the cluster of cases was first noticed on February 22 after several elderly residents were admitted to hospitals with symptoms such as anuria, vomiting, abdominal pain and acute renal dysfunction requiring dialysis.
Residents from Chowdeswaranagar and Swaroopanagar areas of Lalacheruvu reportedly fell ill after consuming milk suspected to be adulterated and supplied in the locality.
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"The death toll in the suspected milk adulteration case in East Godavari district has reached 13, while seven persons are undergoing treatment at hospitals in Rajamahendravaram," the official said.
Authorities noted that strong epidemiological indicators point towards milk adulteration as the probable cause and multiple departments have initiated coordinated action.
Medical examinations revealed elevated levels of blood urea and serum creatinine among the affected persons, suggesting possible toxic exposure, they said.
Preliminary investigations indicated milk consumption as the main source of exposure. The milk was reportedly supplied to nearly 106 families by Varalakshmi Milk Dairy in Narasapuram village of Korukonda mandal, following which the supply was immediately halted.
Emergency medical camps have been set up in the affected localities with doctors and ambulance services deployed round the clock, officials said.
Rapid Response Teams comprising the district surveillance officer, physicians, microbiologists, paediatricians, forensic experts, epidemiologists and nephrologists were constituted to handle the situation.
Meanwhile, the Food Safety Department inspected the dairy unit linked to the supply and collected samples of milk, paneer, ghee, drinking water and vinegar for surveillance and enforcement.
The samples have been sent to laboratories, including JNTU Kakinada and VIMTA Labs in Hyderabad for microbial, physio-chemical and toxic adulterant analysis.
Blood and urine samples of affected persons have also been forwarded for detailed toxicological examination, officials added.
The suspected milk vendor, Addala Ganeswararao (33), a resident of Narasapuram village, has been taken into custody and the dairy unit associated with the supply has been sealed.
CLUES (Crime scene Linking Understanding Evidence and Science) and forensic teams inspected the premises, while post-mortem samples were sent to the Regional Forensic Laboratory in Vijayawada. Police said an investigation is underway to trace the distribution network and identify affected consumers.
The Animal Husbandry Department also formed a team of four veterinary doctors, collected 41 milk samples along with cattle feed and water samples, and sent them to the Veterinary Biological Research Institute in Vijayawada for analysis.
Meanwhile, the police registered a case under Section 194 of the BNSS and Section 174 of the CrPC.
