Will implement Assam-like NRC list in West Bengal if voted to power, says BJP's Dilip Ghosh

Kolkata, July 30: Amid raging debate over the final draft of Assam's National Register of Citizens (NRC), West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh has said that a similar list would be implemented in the state if the saffron party is voted to power.

"If we (BJP) are voted to power in Bengal, then we too will implement the NRC in the state. We will send back the illegal immigrants to Bangladesh. Tough days are ahead, we will not tolerate any illegal immigrants in Bengal," Ghosh told reporters.

Those who will support the illegal immigrants will also be thrown out of the country, he said.

"The NRC in Assam is being implemented following the orders of the court (Supreme Court). It was the Congress, which had proposed the idea of the NRC. Now they are speaking against it," Ghosh added.

The second and final draft of Assam's National Register of Citizens (NRC) was released today. Two crore eighty-nine lakh, eighty-three thousand six hundred and seventy-seven people were found eligible to be included in the National Register of Citizens. There were a total of 3.29 crore applicants. This means that 40,07,707 were left out of the NRC draft.

The government made it clear that it is only a draft NRC. It is not a final NRC and it must be re-emphasised because there would be a process of claims and objections which would begin from August 7. Adequate opportunity would be given to all those who want to file claims and objections, the government also said.

The NRC is being updated under the Supreme Court supervision with March 24, 1971, as the cut-off date for genuine Indian citizens in Assam.

OneIndia News with PTI inputs