Cong MLA wants MP govt to reject citizenship act, NRC

Congress MLA Arif Masood has demanded that Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Kamal Nath reject the amended Citizenship Act as well as proposed country-wide National Register of Citizens.

He would resign as legislator otherwise, said Masood, MLA from Bhopal Central constituency, while speaking to reporters on Thursday night.

Nath should emulate West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee who has said that the Citizenship Act and NRC would not be implemented in her state, he said.

"I am going to tell my leader clearly that the courage shown by Mamata Banerjee should be replicated by our government by rejecting the NRC and Citizenship Act.

"If they (the Congress government in MP) accept these laws, I would not remain a member of the state assembly," he added.

"I remember that our clerics at a Bhopal mosque had once dreamt of Indian Independence and wrote letters (to mobilise people against British rule)," he said.

"Similarly, I ask people of Bhopal to come onto the streets and launch a massive non-violent protest in a Gandhian way against NRC and Citizenship Act," Masood added.

He was ready to go to jail for his stand, he said.

Nath, speaking in Delhi on Friday, accused the BJP-led Union government of practicing a "politics of distractions".

"Every time there is economic slowdown, a bill is introduced, a decision is taken to distract people," he said when asked about the contentious law.