Many foreigners in Draft NRC: Assam BJP

GUWAHATI: The publication of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) final draft has left a section of leaders in Assam’s ruling BJP dissatisfied, because they say many foreigners have made it to the document that has left out a large number of genuine Indian citizens.

The local unit of the party has sent a memorandum to Union home minister Rajnath Singh, seeking an extension to the deadline to file claims and objections so as to identify the foreigners on the list and fix other problems.

BJP’s Hojai MLA Shiladitya Dev has been repeatedly questioning the NRC update process. He recently remarked that after updating the NRC, AIUDF chief Badruddin Ajmal could become the chief minister of Assam.


Dhekiajuli BJP MLA Ashok Singhal said in the three Assam districts bordering Bangladesh, population had increased faster than the rest of India during 1981-1991. “From the above, it can be assumed that the infiltration of foreigners from Bangladesh contributed significantly to the sharp increase of population in Assam.”

In the memorandum to the home minister, BJP state vice-president Manoj Ram Phookan said the party was apprehensive of the fact that around 40.7 lakh people had not found a place in the final draft NRC, “including some genuine Indian citizens”.

Phookan added, “We are of the opinion that not a single foreigners’ name be included.”