After Assam, BJP Wants To Weed Out Illegal Bangladeshi Immigrants Through An NRC In West Bengal

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has said that it will implement the idea of National Register of Citizens (NRC) in West Bengal to identify illegal Bangladeshi immigrants if it comes to power in the state. This development came after state Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced her intention to shelter 40 lakh people who were excluded in the second NRC draft in Assam, The Indian Express has reported.

BJP general secretary in-charge of West Bengal, Kailash Vijayvargiya told the daily that the BJP supported the idea of an NRC like exercise to weed out illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. He added that Bangladeshi immigrants had taken away jobs and were spoiling law and order situation in the opinion of the state’s youth. He added that the party supported the demand of the youth to identify such illegal immigrants.

“If the final draft (of the National Register of Citizens) in Assam found 40 lakh illegal residents, the number could run into crores in West Bengal. In Assam, the Supreme Court has monitored it. This can be done in West Bengal too,” the BJP leader added.

The issue of illegal immigrants is likely to play a key role in 2019 Lok Sabha polls in the state as the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress have strongly contrasting views on the matter.