Guwahati, Sept. 18 -- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma reaffirmed on Wednesday that anyone who entered India before 1971 is a bona fide Indian citizen, a legal position that is now helping thousands of Bengali Hindus resolve long-standing doubts about their nationality.

Citing recent trends in tribunal verdicts, Sarma noted that courts have consistently upheld the 1971 cut-off as the decisive factor in determining citizenship.

"I haven't seen any recent case where a Bengali Hindu has been declared a foreigner. The judiciary has made it clear, entry before 1971 equals unquestionable Indian citizenship," he said.

This clarification has led to a dramatic reduction in the number of Bengali Hindus marked as D-voters (or doubtful vot...