Image: Northeast Now

Union home minister Amit Shah has arrived in Guwahati for his two-day visit to Assam on Sunday.

This is his first visit since the National register of Citizens (NRC) has been published in the State.

The visit of Amit Shah, who is also the president of the BJP, assumes much significance with party leaders in Assam expressing unhappiness over the final NRC published recently.

Notably, ahead of Shah’s visit, Assam has once again been declared as a ‘disturbed area’ for six months.

During his two-day visit, the union home minister will hold a meeting of the North Eastern Council (NEC).

The Governors and Chief Ministers of eight northeastern States will also participate in these meetings.

He is also likely to review the situation in the State after the publication of the NRC.

He will also attend a meeting of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) on Monday.

This is also Amit Shah’s first visit to Assam after becoming the Home Minister.

Earlier this year, Mr Shah, who had described illegal immigrants as ‘termites’ had said earlier this year, while campaigning for the Lok Sabha election, that the party was committed to throw out infiltrators from across the country.

Many BJP leaders, however, have raised concerns over a large number of Bengali Hindus being left out of the NRC.

Assam finance minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma had made it clear that he didn’t think the NRC will be effective in removing illegal immigrants.

The BJP leaders of Assam will meet Union Minister Shah in Guwahati seeking legislative action for protecting the indigenous people of the State whose names did not appear in the final NRC.

Shah was received by Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal and other government officials at the airport.