‘Citizenship update exercise is the soul of the Assam Accord signed by Rajiv’

BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday said the party was committed to the safety of Indian citizens and that Opposition parties opposing the National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in Assam should clarify their stand.

“I was reading and watching news reports on the NRC exercise and I am surprised at the way it has been presented. Even in the Rajya Sabha, during the debate on the issue, where I wasn’t allowed by the Opposition to complete my speech, I was surprised to see that no one was giving the historical background for the NRC, why it came about. The Assam Accord was signed when late Rajiv Gandhi was the Prime Minister of India. The NRC is the soul of that accord,” he said.

Apart from the BJP and the BJD, no other party declared during the Rajya Sabha debate that illegal immigrants should not be allowed into the country.

“The process for NRC, whose mandate is to identify illegal immigrants, was started in 2005, when the UPA was in power, but the government lacked the courage to throw out illegal Bangladeshis,” he said, adding that the NRC will be implemented to the “last full stop and comma” and by the process laid down by the Supreme Court.

Also Read Over 40 lakh left out of draft NRC in Assam

He said there were attempts to conflate illegal migrants and refugees, adding that the government was bringing the Citizenship Amendment Bill to address the issue of citizenship for refugees fleeing religious and other persecution.

Taking on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has accused the BJP of pursuing a “divide and rule” policy, Mr. Shah alleged that she saw a “vote bank" in illegal immigrants while his party was looking at the security of the country and rights of its citizens.

‘Not a final number’

“The list of 40 lakh people not in the NRC is not a final number. The process of claims and appeals is to commence. Every citizen of India of any State can live in Assam. There is no provision in the NRC to oust Indian citizens. I condemn the Opposition parties’ efforts to create a rift between States,” he said. “I want to ask the Congress why you are questioning the NRC for vote bank. The Congress started the NRC process in 2005. But you lacked the courage to throw out illegal Bangladeshi immigrants because vote bank was important for you, not national security and rights of citizens,” he said.

Asked about human rights concerns raised by some parties and rights bodies, he said he was concerned about the rights of Indian citizens whose resources were being grabbed by illegal immigrants.

Condemns Mamata

He also condemned Ms. Banerjee for her warning that there could be civil war and bloodbath, saying the country was divided once in the name of civil war.

“She should clarify what kind of civil war she is talking about,” he said.

Asked about a demand of West Bengal BJP leaders for an NRC in the State, Mr. Shah said the NRC was at present confined to Assam and the party would take a stand on such issues at an appropriate time.