Nothing to worry about Assam’s NRC list, says home minister

GAZIPUR, Sept 01 (UNB): Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal said on Sunday there is nothing to worry about Assam's National Register of Citizens (NRC) list as no Bangladeshi infiltrated into India after 1971.
"We want to say it clearly that no Bangladeshi entered India after '71, whoever had gone there it was before '71. As people had come here from India, people had gone to India as well," he said.
He was speaking at the closing ceremony of prisoners' basic training and parade programme at Kashimpur Central Jail.
"Our stance is clear. We don't want to make comment on any internal issue of other country," he said.
India on Saturday published the final citizenship list in the state of Assam that excluded nearly 2.0 million people amid fears they could be rendered stateless, reports AP.
The list, known as the National Register of Citizens, intends to identify legal residents and weed out illegal immigrants from the state.
A total of 31.1 million people were included in the list, leaving out 1.9 million people, according to a statement from the Assam government.
The controversial list has ended the wait of millions of Assam residents who will now find out whether they are Indians or 'foreigners.' Critics have viewed the exercise as an attempt to deport millions of minority Muslims, many of whom have entered India from neighbouring Bangladesh.
About the bomb blast in the city on Saturday, the Home Minister said, "The attack was not made targeting the minister."
Detectives and police are investigating the incident, he added.