Indian politician says illegal Bangladeshi immigrants should be ‘shot’

An Indian politician has courted controversy for saying Bangladeshis settled illegally in Indian state of Assam should be shot dead if they refuse to leave the country.

The final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) consisting of more than 28.9 million people was released on Monday (31) and over four million people have been left off from the list as they have failed to prove their Indian citizenship.

In response to this, T Raja Singh, a lawmaker with the ruling party, the BJP, posted on Facebook a video where he applauded the NRC’s decision.

“Today, a very good decision was taken,” he said in the video. “I agree completely with the NRC’s decision because what work do these Bangaldeshis have in India? They are living in Assam with an intention to destroy India. The Centre must take steps to send them back as soon as possible. This is my request.”

“If these people don’t leave our country peacefully, I believe that there is a need to make them understand in another language, just like in other countries, they are shot and made to flee, in India as well, if they don't leave, there is a need to shoot them and make them leave with bullets (sic)," he added.

This isn’t the first time Singh has stirred trouble with his hate speech. Recently, yet another clip surfaced online that showed the controversial legislator telling a crowd that anyone who doesn't utter ‘Bharat Mata ki jai’ should be deported from the country.

However, it is not clear when he made this statement.

Assam is the first Indian state where the NRC is being updated after 1951. The first draft of the NRC, which was released in December, confirmed the citizenship of 19 million people.