Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma made a bold declaration on Tuesday, asserting that he would be the first to resign if citizenship is granted to any individual who hasn’t applied for the National Register of Citizens (NRC). Sarma’s statement comes amidst escalating protests in Assam against the implementation of the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA).

Opposition parties in Assam have vehemently criticized the BJP government at the Centre for enacting the CAA, which paves the way for granting citizenship to undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

Addressing concerns raised by protesters, Sarma emphasized his commitment to the integrity of Assam, stating, “I am a son of Assam, and if a single person who has not applied for NRC gets citizenship, I will be the first to resign.” He further warned that if the influx of people into the state escalates due to the CAA, he would lead the protest against it.

Sarma sought to allay fears by noting that the CAA is not a new enactment but rather a law that was passed earlier. He highlighted the significance of the upcoming application process, stating, “Now the time has come for application on the portal.” Sarma expressed confidence that the data collected through the portal would provide clarity on the validity of claims made by opponents of the Act.

With the issuance of CAA rules, the central government is poised to grant Indian nationality to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who arrived in India until December 31, 2014. This includes individuals belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi, and Christian communities. The implementation of the law had been delayed due to the absence of notified rules until now.