Millions May Be Left Stateless in India’s Citizenship Crackdown
- About 1.9 million have been excluded in Assam citizenship list
- Muslims will be most affected in the state registration drive
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About 1.9 million people risk losing their Indian citizenship as Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government pushes its Hindu nationalist agenda to target so-called “illegal migrants” in the northeastern state of Assam.
Authorities published an updated list of so-called “genuine citizens” on Saturday and those not on the register -- millions who’ve resided in Assam for decades -- now fear they’ll be unable to vote in elections, access welfare programs or own property. Instead they could be forced to live in detention camps or be deported to neighboring Bangladesh. In villages across the state residents are in shock and those excluded from the list are at once angry, scared and resentful.