Addressing a press conference in Kolkata, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah on Monday stated that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will be implemented across the country. "NRC will be implemented across the country and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill will become a reality. The Hindus or Jains or Buddhists will be given citizenship in the next term of the BJP government. Adding that the National Register of Citizens will not be just for Bengal but also for the whole country.
Shah emphasized on contentious NRC and the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, Shah said refugees need not worry as after returning to power, the BJP will first bring the bill in Parliament and then implement the NRC across the country to weed out infiltrators.
At the press conference, Amit Shah also said, "The refugees will be given citizenship and they will remain in this country with full dignity. They should not pay heed to the misleading statements by Mamata Banerjee".
The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed by the Lok Sabha on January 8 but was not tabled in Rajya Sabha where the BJP does not have majority.
"The picture of Rajya Sabha will change in favour of the BJP by 2020 and there will be no problem in passing the bill", he said.
On a question on alleged discrepancies over citizenship and educational qualifications in Congress president Rahul Gandhi's poll affidavit filed at Amethi, Shah said that the concerned returning officer should look into it.
Asked if the BJP will seek support from the Trinamool Congress in case it falls short of majority, he said, "The question does not arise. We will get full majority."
