Assam polls: BJP chief releases manifesto, promises to work on ‘corrected NRC’

National President of Assam's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party JP Nadda today released the manifesto for the upcoming assembly elections in the state, promising to work on the "corrected" National Register of Citizens (NRC), protect "genuine" Indian citizens and detect infiltrators.

"We will protect genuine Indian citizens and detect infiltrators to ensure the Ahom civilisation stays safe," Nadda said at a press conference after the release of the manifesto.

He was addressing a media conference in India's Guwahati, reports our New Delhi correspondent.

On March 17, Indian Minister of State for Home Nityanand Rai had told the Rajya Sabha that the government has not taken any decision on a nationwide roll-out of the NRC.

He was replying to a question in the Rajya Sabha on whether the government had any plans to implement the NRC throughout the country.

The NRC was updated in Assam under the supervision of the Supreme Court.

When the final NRC was published on August 31, 2019, a total of 19.06 lakh people were excluded, sparking a huge controversy across India.

The NRC is an Assam-specific exercise in a state which has faced inflow of people from the then east Pakistan and Bangladesh.

Among other things, the BJP poll manifesto also promises "Mission Brahmaputra" under which the BJP government will build big reservoirs around the Bramhaputra river to conserve extra water and save the people from floods.

There is concern over China's construction of a huge dam on Yarlung Tsangpo (as the Brahmaputra is called in Tibet) may lead to fall in water level in north eastern Indian states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam through which the river flows before moving to Bangladesh.

Assam is set to go to the assembly election in three phases from March 27 and vote-count will be held on May 2.

The BJP, seeking a second successive stint in power in the state, is in direct contest with the Congress which hopes to regain the reins.