– Raheem Khan
Jaipur: The Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) has expressed its support for the Supreme Court’s ruling upholding the constitutional validity of Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955. The party believes that this decision will resolve the long-standing uncertainties and challenges faced by people who had been labelled as infiltrators and foreigners. It is also expected to clarify the ambiguities surrounding the implementation of NRC in Assam.
Section 6A, introduced in 2004, specifically applies to Assam and was enacted in line with the 1985 Assam Accord, which was signed following six years of protests demanding the expulsion of illegal immigrants. The Assam Accord categorized migrants into three groups:
- Those who entered Assam before January 1, 1966: They would be recognized as Indian citizens.
- Those who arrived between January 1, 1966, and March 24, 1971: They could claim citizenship but would not be allowed to vote for 10 years.
- Those who entered after March 25, 1971: These individuals would be treated as illegal immigrants and subject to deportation.
Section 6A provided the legal framework for this arrangement, affirming the 1971 cut-off date for citizenship in Assam.
