Oppn sees vote bank in NRC, for BJP it’s national security: Shah
NEW DELHI: BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday asked opposition parties to take a clear stand on the National Register of Citizens issue in Assam and not indulge in vote bank politics, asserting that NRC will be implemented “to the last full stop” as his party stands for national security and Indians’ rights.
Dismissing criticism by parties like the Congress and the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Shah told a press conference that 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”.
Taking on Opposition leaders who have accused the BJP of pursuing a ‘divide and rule’ policy, Shah alleged that they saw a “vote bank” in illegal immigrants while his party was looking at the security of the country and rights of its citizens.
No Indian citizen should be concerned, and natives of any other state living in Assam would not be touched, he said, adding, NRC must be implemented firmly and fairly.
“The BJP is committed to the national security and safety of its citizens. This is our top priority. All other parties should clarify their stand,” he said.
He said the NRC is the soul of the Assam accord which the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had signed and it stipulates that every single illegal immigrant would be identified and his name struck off the voters list.