India is not a shelter home for illegal immigrants, says Amit Shah on NRC

December 9: BJP President Amit Shah again hits out at 40 lakh persons whose names were not included in the final NRC draft in Assam published on 30 July 2018. Amit Shah said on Saturday that Indians have the right to the country’s resources, and it is not a ‘dharamshala’ (shelter home) where undocumented immigrants can come to settle down. Mr Shah said so while speaking at the Jagran Forum organised by the Dainik Jagran media group.

Taking on opposition over the issue, the BJP chief alleged that the “intruders” have been used as a vote bank for 70 years and they are a threat to the country, whereas the BJP believes in taking tough decisions which are in the interest of the country. “They should be identified. Delete their names from the electoral roll. The BJP clearly believes that they should be identified and deported. Intruders are also threatening the security of the country,” he said while replying to a question on NRC.

Earlier this year, Shah courted controversy by saying that Bangladeshi immigrants are like termites and each one of them should be struck off the electoral roll. Assam is the only state having a National Register of Citizens (NRC), first prepared in 1951. It is being updated under the monitoring of the Supreme Court.

Speaking at the same event, BJP chief said that his party will do well in all five states where polling has concluded and will win Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Rajasthan.