GUWAHATI, Sept 8 - Supporting the Centre�s decision to allow minority refugees, including Hindus and Sikhs, from Bangladesh and Pakistan to stay in this country even after expiry of their visas on humanitarian grounds, Governor PB Acharya today said that such people have been driven out from their countries.
Asked during a press conference at the Raj Bhavan if Hindus fleeing from Bangladesh should be given citizenship, he said, �Hindus have got that birth right. They were driven away from their country.�
He added, �All non-Muslims must be given citizenship. Illegal Muslim immigrants can stay and slog. However, they will not get voting rights.�
He said the NRC update project was undertaken to ensure that all illegal immigrants in Assam could be identified.
�This government will not allow foreigners to vote� Elections should be only for Indian citizens,� he said.
Asked if the latest decision of the Central government is in contradiction to the clauses of the Assam Accord, Acharya said that the situation has to be reviewed with passage of time and �nothing is sacrosanct.�
