Guwahati: An Assam BJP leader’s remark that the party would take 1951 as the base year to detect foreigners if elected will have “no effect” on minorities and has caused “damage” to it in the second phase of Assembly polls in the state, AIUDF Chief Badruddin Ajmal has said.
Assam BJP’s Election Committee Convener Himanta Biswa Sarma’s statement during the campaign will in “no way affect the minorities but has severely affected BJP’s prospects in the second phase polls in Lower and Central Assam”, Ajmal told PTI.
“Sarma made this statement to score politically but it has caused damage to BJP and will electorally benefit Congress the most.
In fact, the BJP high-command should take Sarma to task and ask for an explanation from him on this issue,” the All India United Democratic Front leader said.
The process of updating the National Register of Citizens is currently on in Assam with 1971 as the base year which was agreed upon in the Assam Accord.
“The demand for 1951 as the base year will in no way affect majority of the Muslims as most can trace their family linkage to 1951 but will actually affect the Hindu Bengalis as most came from Bangladesh after 1971”, Ajmal said.
“Our stand is very clear–we stand by the decision of 1971 as the base year which is being followed for updating NRC and we are committed to the Assam Accord,” he said.
AIUDF’s stand on the issue of foreigners has been clear from the beginning that all foreigners who have come after 1971 must leave but genuine citizens should not be harassed at any cost, Ajmal said.
“Bangladeshis must go. We do not want them to be in Assam but genuine citizens of the country who have been living in the state for generations should not be harassed. I have stated the same in Parliament,” he said. (PTI)
