Jagdambika Pal, Chairman of the Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC), has expressed full support for the Assam government’s newly approved policy, which requires individuals to apply for inclusion in the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in order to be eligible for Aadhaar card applications. The policy, approved by Assam’s Cabinet on Wednesday, aims to ensure that only legally recognized Indian citizens are granted Aadhaar cards in the state.

Under the new rule, individuals who have not applied for NRC will have their Aadhaar requests automatically rejected, with a report submitted to the central government. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma explained that the move is part of the state’s efforts to ensure that only lawful residents are included in the NRC process.

Pal supported the policy, stating that it is within the state’s rights to make such decisions. He emphasized the importance of the NRC in identifying legitimate citizens, particularly in Assam, where concerns about illegal immigration are high.

The announcement comes amid political controversy, particularly in Delhi, where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the BJP of settling Rohingya refugees while vilifying them. Pal responded, asserting that these individuals are not Indian citizens and criticized opposition leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, for supporting them.

In addition to the NRC-Aadhaar policy, Pal also discussed the ongoing review of the Waqf Amendment Bill, revealing that the JPC has considered 44 proposed amendments. He mentioned the involvement of institutions such as Darul Uloom Deoband in the discussions surrounding the bill.