NRC rings the division bell
The publication of the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Assam on July 30 has prompted political parties and civil society groups in West Bengal, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Bihar, Jharkhand, Delhi, Haryana and all northeastern states to demand a similar exercise in their states. Illegal immigration is likely to become a polarising theme for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls if the statements of political leaders across parties are any indication.
The NRC in Assam is being conducted under the supervision of the Supreme Court to identify those immigrants from Bangladesh who have crossed over illegally into India. Ridding the state of illegal Bangladeshi immigrants was the promise that carried the BJP to victory in the 2016 Assam election. Now the party hopes the "fear of outsiders" will have national resonance.
BJP president Amit Shah lost no time dubbing the four million people excluded from the NRC as "intruders", though later media reports
