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Logic of �71 as cut-off year for NRC update questioned

By Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Aug 18 � Member of pro-talk ULFA Mrinal Hazarika today sparked a new debate questioning the logic behind fixing March 25, 1971 as the cut-off year for the update of National Register of Citizens.

Hazarika, said: �How can March 25, 1971 be the cut-off year when the Supreme Court had termed the same as unconstitutional?�

Talking to media persons, he said that an all-party meeting should be convened to discuss the issue and decide on the cut-off year.

�There cannot be two sets of laws for the citizens of a country. If necessary, let the Constitution be amended or 1971 be made the cut-of year for the entire country,� he stated.

Hazarika also demanded that Article 6(A) of the Citizenship Act, which bestows Indian citizenship to everyone born before 2004, to be scrapped.

The pro-talk ULFA leader also favoured the need for an effective implementation of Prevention of Infiltration against Foreigners (PIF) that detected 2, 40,000 illegal Pakistani citizens and deported 1, 90,000 of them from 1968 to 1969 in the State.

�As far as we know the PIF scheme has not been officially revoked and Assam Police is still availing the funds earmarked for the same year after year,� Hazarika alleged.

�Going by the way the deportation process in the State is going, it would take hundreds years to detect and deport the illegal migrants,� he stated.

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