Guwahati, 28th September: In a significant policy announcement, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma declared that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will be enforced in the state, with individuals excluded from the list facing deportation to Bangladesh. Sarma, who also serves as the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) co-in-charge for the upcoming Jharkhand elections, made the statement while addressing concerns over demographic changes in Jharkhand.
“NRC will be carried out, and those who are not listed will be pushed to Bangladesh. This is going to be our policy moving forward,” Sarma asserted, reinforcing the government’s commitment to tackling illegal immigration.
However, the Chief Minister clarified that due legal processes would be strictly followed, ensuring that those impacted by the NRC would have the chance to present their case. “Everyone will have the opportunity to prove their citizenship. But if they fail to do so, they will be deported through legal channels,” Sarma added.
Discussing the NRC’s status in Assam, Sarma revealed that 14 lakh individuals have already been identified as non-citizens in the state. The government is now awaiting approval from the Supreme Court to carry out a further revision, which could increase the number significantly.
In a related move, Sarma announced that starting October 1, stricter rules for obtaining Aadhaar cards will be introduced in Assam. Only individuals who have participated in the NRC process will be eligible to receive an Aadhaar card, a measure designed to further streamline the identification of illegal immigrants.
The Assam government has also issued a directive to intensify efforts at the international borders, focusing on preventing illegal immigration and ensuring the NRC’s implementation. The memorandum highlights the state’s commitment to reinforcing border security and upholding the integrity of the NRC process.
This announcement underlines the BJP’s stringent stance on illegal immigration as a core part of its policy platform, with the NRC at the forefront of its efforts.