Assam CM: Pre-1971 Residents Are 100% Indian, D-Voter Cases Drop to 25,000

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma announced a significant decline in D-Voter cases, with the number of Bengali Hindus marked as doubtful voters falling from 200,000 to 25,000 over the past five years. Speaking on the citizenship verification issue, Sarma stated that individuals residing in Assam before 1971 are considered “100% Indian,” and the issue could be nearly resolved by next year if current trends persist.The decline is attributed to Bengali Hindus successfully proving their refugee status in court using 1971 refugee camp certificates. “I haven’t seen any Bengali Hindu declared a foreigner recently,” Sarma noted, highlighting improved clarity in court rulings. The D-Voter category, used to flag questionable citizenship during electoral roll updates, has long caused uncertainty for families, impacting their voting rights and citizenship status.This development marks a significant step toward resolving longstanding citizenship concerns in Assam, offering relief to thousands of affected families.