GUWAHATI, Feb 22 � Bringing the NRC updating process under the scanner, the Prabrajan Birodhi Mancha, today alleged that the existing process of NRC update clubbed with �glaring illegalities�, would facilitate grant of citizenship to a large number of illegal migrants from Bangladesh if steps are not taken to rectify it.
The forum against infiltration argued that under the clauses of the Citizenship Act, the offspring of illegal migrants are entitled to get Indian citizenship upto December 3, 2004, even if the cut-off date for granting citizenship to such migrants from Bangladesh is March 25, 1971.
�Under the Act, there is provision for conferment of citizenship by birth, unconditional and qualified in different phases. Only after the amendment of the Act in December 2004, it was laid down that a person would be entitled to get citizenship by birth after December 03, 2004, if one parent is an Indian citizen and the other should not be an illegal migrant,� said Upamanyu Hazarika, convenor of the forum, while addressing the media today.
Demanding of the Centre as well as the State government to do away with the lacunae and serious infirmities in the legal regime regarding implementation of the Assam Accord, the forum said that in case of Assam, the amendment of 2004 should be implemented from March 1971, to make sure that the illegal migrants are expelled from the State.
�Updating NRC does not mean expelling illegal migrants, but identifying Indian citizens only. Hence, given the magnitude of fabrication of documents like birth certificate, identity proof, land documents etc., it is not a difficult task to produce such duplicate documents required for NRC update,� Hazarika said, producing proof of several instances in different parts of the State where doubtful citizens have produced illegal documents for obtaining bank loans etc.
�Moreover, the issue of clearing public land, government land, forest land, grazing land etc., has not been properly addressed, which is a must for proper identification and expulsion of the illegal migrants,� he added.
The forum has given a memorandum to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding immediate steps to protect the interest of the people of Assam and ensure that the NRC does not become a means to legalise the illegal migrants.
