AMARAVATI: Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday decided to go with the 2010 questionnaire for the National Population Register (NPR).

The Andhra Pradesh Council of Ministers on Wednesday decided to keep the process of the National Population Register (NPR) in abeyance in the state till the Centre reverts to the 2010 questionnaire.

The cabinet, which met here under the chairmanship of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, adopted a resolution requesting the Centre to change the NPR questionnaire and also remove the apprehensions among the people on the issue.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, state Information and Public Relations Minister Perni Venkataramaiah (Nani) said the Cabinet felt it was not just to forcibly impose the NPR when crores of people were frightened over it. The onus is on the Centre to remove the apprehensions and create awareness among people on the NPR. We are only asking the Centre to fulfil its responsibility, the Minister said.

"The Centre has taken a decision and is asking us to implement it. But when crores of people of the state are scaredwe have the right to safeguard people's interests.

As we are the implementing agency, we have decided to keep the process in abeyance till the Centre concedes our request," the Information Minister added.

Perni Venkataramaiah, said the decision on NPR was taken in the public interest. 'In this regard, we have sent a requisition to the Union government to change the questionnaire or take up the NPR in its 2010 format,' he said. The decision came a day after the Chief Minister tweeted that some of the questions in the new format were causing insecurity among minorities. He had also stated that a resolution in this regard would be introduced in the upcoming Assembly session. (with inputs from the Agencies)

Also Read: AP Requesting Centre To Maintain NPR Register As In 2010