‘NCP’s Stand Clear, Will Convince Uddhav Thackeray,’ Says Pawar on Differences Over CAA, NPR

Underlining that the Nationalist Congress Party's stand is clear over the CAA, Pawar said the Shiv Sena chief was entitled to his view and that the alliance partners may discuss the issue.

NCP , Sharad Pawar — NCP Supremo Sharad Pawar

New Delhi: Soon after Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray said there is no need to worry if the Centre’s contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is implemented in the state, NCP chief Sharad Pawar, who is a major alliance partner in the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, on Tuesday said his party is firm in opposing the CAA but will try to convince Thackeray.

Underlining that the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP’s) stand is clear over the CAA, Pawar said the Shiv Sena chief was entitled to his view and that the alliance partners may discuss the issue.

“Whatever Uddhav Thackeray said, that is his view. He is the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, he has his own views. Yes, in Maharashtra we are in a coalition government and opinion and views of the parties on certain issues may differ, but we can sit and discuss on it as far as CAA is concerned,” Pawar said.

He said that the three alliance partners of the Maha Vikas Aghadi will sit and discuss the matter and soon we will try to convince Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray about it. However, he clarified that there can be a difference of opinions in a coalition government in any state. Both Congress and NCP are opposing the CAA and the proposed NRC.

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“We have the experience of running a coalition government at the Centre during the UPA regime. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA) had 29 parties. In fact, we had the Left front parties too with us which always had different views, but we managed to go along with them,” Pawar added.

The statement from Pawar came after Uddhav Thackeray said that there is no need to worry if the CAA is implemented. However, he stated that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will not be implemented in the state.

“CAA and NRC both are different and NPR is different. No one has to worry if CAA gets implemented. NRC is not there and will not be implemented in the state,” Thackeray said.

The development comes after a number of non-BJP states, including Madhya Pradesh, West Bengal, Kerala, Punjab and Rajasthan, have refused to implement the CAA and the proposed NRC in their respective states.