As Promised In BJP Manifesto, Centre Will Hold Nationwide NRC To Identify Illegal Immigrants, Infiltrators: Amit Shah

Despite criticism over the outcome of the just culminated National Register of Citizens (NRC) exercise in Assam, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said on Wednesday (18 Spetember) that the government will be conducting the NRC exercise on a pan-India basis to identify the illegal immigrants and infiltrators, reports The Economic Times.

Shah said that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had promised in its election manifesto that if they returned to power, the party would conduct a nation wide NRC and take action against illegal immigrants as per law.

Shah further reasoned, "I firmly believe that there is not a single country where anyone can just go and settle. I am asking you, can you go and settle in America? No, you cannot settle. Then how can someone else can settle in India? It is very simple to understand."

"You go try to settle in England, the Netherlands, Russia no one would allow you. Then how come anyone comes and settle down in India. Countries do not function like this. This is the need of the hour that people of the country get a national register," Shah added to his rationale.

The NRC exercise which was recently completed in Assam after a prolonged process saw over 19 lakh persons excluded from the list, who are all presently resident in the state of Assam. It should be noted though that some in the BJP, including Finance Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma have expressed discontent with the outcome of the NRC.