Nobody should fear new citizenship law: Thackeray

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray yesterday said nobody should feel threatened by the new citizenship law (CAA) or National Population Register as these measures are not meant to drive away anyone from the country.
His remarks came at a press conference held after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the first after Thackeray took over as the chief minister.
Thackeray’s Shiv Sena had a pre-poll alliance with the BJP in Maharashtra, but the Sena later joined hands with the Nationalist Congress Party and the Congress to form the Maha Vikas Aghadi government in the state.
“We discussed Citizenship Amendment Act and National Population Register,” Thackeray said, adding he has come to understand the role of the Centre in the NRC.
“No one should fear CAA or the NPR. These are not going to throw anyone out of the country,” Thackeray said. “Those who are provoking people in the name of CAA or NPR must fully understand the provisions.”
He also refuted reports about rift among the constituents of the Maha Aghadi. “We will work according to our common minimum programme and complete the full term”, he said.
The NCP led by Sharad Pawar and Congress are reportedly upset with the chief minister’s stand of NPR and CAA.
The chief minister said the Centre should be more prompt in handing over the GST share to the state. “Farmers, too, are not being benefited adequately under the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana,” Thackeray said.
The Shiv Sena also posted a photo of the meeting from its official Twitter handle. It said: “Chief Minister Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray and Minster Aaditya Thackeray had a courtesy meeting with the Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi in Delhi today.”
Dispelling political speculation, Sena leader Sanjay Raut earlier tweeted, “Yes, Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray will meet PM Modi. This is only a meeting, nothing else should be read into it. Jai Maharashtra.”
Last year, after the Maharashtra election, the Shiv Sena walked out of the NDA and formed a government with the help of the NCP and the Congress. This happened after the BJP refused to share the chief ministerial post with the Sena.
Thackeray later met Congress president Sonia Gandhi to discuss the current political situation and CAA-NPR-NRC issue.
Thackeray met Sonia at her residence and the meeting lasted for around half-an-hour. This is the first meeting of Thackeray with Sonia after the formation of the coalition government in Maharashtra.
Sources said the leaders are learnt to have discussed the functioning of the ‘Maha-Agadi’ government.
AICC general secretary in-charge of Maharashtra Mallikarjun Kharge and Shiv Sena leaders Aaditya Thackeray and Sanjay Raut were also present during the meeting.