NRC update: Now, Rakibul kicks up another row

OUR STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI, July 2: After Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi's controversial decision to move the Union Home Ministry seeking the 2014 electoral roll as an additiol document for enrolling mes in the tiol Register of Citizens, Agriculture minister Rakibul Hussain today stirred the hornet's nest saying that immigrants who came to Assam out of fear of religious persecution should be granted Indian citizenship.

 "Immigrants who came to Assam after March 25, 1971 due to religious persecution should be granted Indian citizenship on humanitarian grounds. The cabinet in its meeting has already taken a decision on this matter," Hussain said.

His comments have sparked sharp reactions, with the AASU describing it an "unfortute."

AASU's chief adviser Dr. Sammujjal Kumar Bhattacharjee said that Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi is taking an "anti-Assam stand by trying to shelter the illegal immigrants".

"According to the Assam Accord, March 25, 1971 is the cut-off date and the government should stick to it. If we treat the electoral roll of 2014 as an additiol document, the whole process of NRC upgradation will turn futile and redundant," Bhattacharjee said.