Tezpur, Aug. 23: Assam Congress leader and Rajya Sabha MP Ripun Bora today said a section of BJP leaders was creating confusion regarding the cut-off year of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), 1951, being updated in the state.
Addressing a news conference at Tezpur circuit house this afternoon, Bora said March 24, 1971, had been accepted as the cut-off year for detection of foreigners living illegally in Assam.
He said finance ministerHimantaBiswa Sarma's recent opinion that 1951 should be the cut-off year and another BJP MLA Shiladitya Deb favouring 1947 for the same were creating confusion.
"When the NRC is being updated under the supervision of the Supreme Court, such contradictory statements are creating confusion. Such statements of the ruling BJP leaders can harm peace and harmony as the NRC is a very sensitive issue in the state," Bora said.
In a recent interview, Sarma said it was his personal opinion that 1951 should be the cut-off year for detection of foreigners in the state.
Bora also accused the BJP-led government in the state of failing to contain prices and taking measures to address the major problems as promised in its vision document before the Assembly elections held in April.