New Delhi: A day after Union Home Minister Amit Shah while addressing Rajya Sabha claimed that his government has plans to launch a nationwide National Register for Citizens (NRC) to check and deport illegal immigrants, activist Harsh Mander called it irresponsible and worrisome.
Speaking to ETV Bharat, Harsh Mander, activist, reiterated, "If the NRC is extended to the other parts of the country to my mind it will tear apart the country and it will be the end of the secular constitution. Because what he is not saying it's NRC and Citizenship Amendment Bill. So, it is particularly targeted to only one religious community and they live in every corner of the country."
"In the last 10 years, nearly 164 people have been deported from Assam to Bangladesh. Because Bangladesh is going to accept only those people who admit being Bangladeshi. And they have to go through a torturous process.
When he (home minister) says that his government is going to send them back, my point is that where he is going to send them."
On Wednesday, Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai told the Rajya Sabha that there would be some delay in finalizing the NRC as the government does not want genuine citizens to be left out or any illegal immigrant to be included.
It is to be noted that the government statement comes a day after the Supreme Court refused a plea by the Centre and the state of Assam for an urgent hearing to postpone NRC, the deadline for which is 31 July.
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