After various groups in other northeastern states demanded the implementation of a National Register of Citizens (NRC) along the lines of the one conducted in Assam, BJP leaders have called for the exercise to be undertaken in Delhi and Mumbai to identify and deport illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. On Tuesday, the BJP's West Bengal unit chief had declared the party would conduct an NRC in West Bengal if it came to power.
Over 40 lakh people were excluded from the final draft of the NRC in Assam, which was published on Monday, triggering a political uproar.
Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari on Wednesday wrote a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh seeking action to identify illegal immigrants, similar to the NRC. Tiwari also sought that the AAP government in the state identify and evict Rohingyas and Bangladeshi illegal immigrants.
Tiwari alleged “thousands” of Rohingyas and Bangladeshis were living illegally in Delhi, with some even obtaining Aadhaar and ration cards in collusion with government officials. Justifying his call for an NRC exercise, Tiwari claimed the illegal immigrants were depriving poor Indians of their rights and were also involved in crime.
In Mumbai, Raj Purohit, the chief whip of the BJP in the Maharashtra Assembly, wrote a letter to the Mumbai City Collector Shivaji Jondhale demanding an NRC to identify and deport illegal Bangladeshis in the city.
Like Tiwari, Purohit—the MLA for Colaba—alleged that Bangladeshi illegal immigrants were able to obtain identity documents like Aadhaar cards and voter cards with the help of local politicians. Purohit claimed the illegal immigrants were a threat to law and order.
He wrote, “You [collector] should, with the help of the Election Commission and police officials, chalk out a time-bound programme to identify and deport the Bangladeshi nationals to their home country from Colaba and Mumbai in line with the (draft) NRC.”
On Tuesday, the BJP's West Bengal unit president Dilip Ghosh claimed his party would conduct an NRC if it came to power in the state. BJP national president Amit Shah had defended the NRC in Assam and declared it would be implemented “to the last full stop”.
The NRC is becoming a major issue of political contention with the Trinamool Congress of Mamata Banerjee calling it an attempt by the BJP to polarise voters.
(With PTI inputs)