Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath has praised the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, adding that he would introduce a similar drive in his state if the need arose.

In an interview with an English daily, Adityanath said that the NRC exercise was brave and important.

"These things are being implemented phase-wise and I feel that when Uttar Pradesh will need an NRC, we will do so. In the first phase, it has been Assam and the way it is being implemented there, it can be an example for us," the chief minister told the daily.

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Adityanath said that the exercise was important for national security and would put an end to the suffering of the poor due to illegal immigration.

Last month, the Assam government released the final NRC list in the state, leaving out over 19 lakh people. The massive drive was carried out with an aim to drive out illegal settlers from Assam.

Earlier, Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Manoj Tiwari had sought an NRC for the capital city and on Sunday, Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that he was exploring legal options to carry out a similar exercise in his state.