CAA, NRC, NPR unconstitutional: Amarinder

Terming the CAA-NRC-NPR as "unconstitutional and absurd", chief minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday said half the people of Punjab including himself do not have birth certificates to prove their nationality.

Pointing out that most people in the state came from Pakistan, Singh asked if the Centre expected them to go to the neighbouring country to look for their proof of birth.

"Even I don't have a birth certificate. These things did not exist when I was born," said the chief minister, adding that it would make him a "doubtful character" under the National Population Register (NPR).

Stressing that his government was "totally opposed" to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC) and NPR, Singh said a routine census would be conducted in Punjab but it would not be based on religion, caste and creed.

Questioning what the BJP-led central government was trying to prove with these laws and documents, Singh took strong exception to even former Army officials being declared non-Indians after fighting for the nation.

For 72 years, India has been a diverse country, with different religions, castes and creeds living together as one in the true spirit of the Constitution and its Preamble, Singh said.

"Suddenly, they want to break and fragment this nation, which is totally unacceptable," he said at a conclave here.

The reaction of the people, especially the youth, clearly shows that this will not work in this country, said Singh.