The promise made in BJP manifesto contradicts govt. affidavit in the SC

The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)’s election promise to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) across the country, if voted back to power for a second term, contradicts the Centre’s stand in the Supreme Court and Parliament.

Responding to a petition calling for implementing the NRC in Tripura, the Centre had filed an affidavit in the Supreme Court in January that it was not required as adequate laws existed to identify and deport illegal immigrants, The Hindu has learnt.

On October 8 last year, a petition was filed by the Tripura People’s Front and others in the Supreme Court to update the NRC in Tripura as is being done in Assam, to detect and deport “illegal immigrants” from Bangladesh. The petition asked the SC to direct the authorities to update the NRC by taking July 19, 1948 as the cut-off date.

The SC had subsequently issued a notice to the Centre and State government on the petition.

In its response, the Centre’s affidavit said sufficient laws were in place to deal with illegal immigrants.

On December 19 last year, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Ahir also informed Lok Sabha that there was no plan to extend the NRC to States other than Assam.

Not beyond Assam

“The exercise to update NRC 1951 is being conducted under the special provisions in respect of State of Assam under the Citizenship Act, 1955, and the Citizenship Rules, 2003. At present, there is no proposal to extend the NRC to States other than Assam,” Mr. Ahir said.

However, in March, BJP’s national president Amit Shah began his election campaign in West Bengal with a promise to introduce NRC in the State. The BJP’s election manifesto released on April 8 clearly says the NRC will be implemented in a phased manner across the country.

A senior government official said provisions like the Citizenship Act, Foreigners Act and the Passport Act existed to detect and deport illegal immigrants in the country.

“The NRC is unique to Assam. It is being conducted under the supervision of the SC,” said the official.

As per fiats of the Supreme Court, the Registrar General of India published the final draft list of NRC on July 30 last year to segregate Indian citizens living in Assam from those who had illegally entered the State from Bangladesh after March 25, 1971. Nearly 40 lakh people were excluded from Assam's final draft of the NRC.