1951 cannot be base year to identify indigenous people of Assam: ULFA

The chief coordinator of Indigenous Forum of Assam Anup Chetia said that National Register of Citizens (NRC) cannot protect the indigenous people of the state if 1951 remains the base year for identifying foreigners.

Guwahati: Days after the publication of final National Register of Citizen in Assam, ULFA general secretary urges high power committee to not accept 1951 as the base year for identifying the indigenous people of Assam.

A high power committee has been formed to look into the implementation of clause 6 of the Assam Accord.

The chief coordinator of Indigenous Forum of Assam and general secretary of United Liberation of Assam (ULFA) Anup Chetia said that National Register of Citizens (NRC) cannot protect the indigenous people of the state if 1951 remains the base year for identifying foreigners.

Speaking to ETV Bharat, Chetia said, "Indigenous people should get constitutional safeguard. To protect our identity, culture, economy we need to declare those who are original inhabitants of Assam."

"Don't go for base year 1951 or 1971 . Those who are historically living here are the indigenous people of Assam," he further added.

The NRC was updated in Assam in a bid to detect the illegal foreigners but after names of lakhs of people found missing in the list, Government has given 120 days time to make claims.