NEW DELHI: The Union home ministry has advised
Assam government against initiating action against those left out of the draft national register of citizens (
NRC) to be published on July 30, stating that there was no question of referring any person to the detention centre or Foreigners’ Tribunal based on the draft.
In an advisory sent to the state government of Assam,” the home ministry said: “There is no question of referring the persons whose names do not figure in the draft NRC to the Foreigners’ Tribunal as people are entitled to file claims & objections and due opportunity has to be given to them before final publication. The question of referring any person to a detention centre based on NRC exercise also does not arise. State Government has been asked to issue clear instructions in this regard to all administrative and police functionaries”.
The advisory, also sent to states neighbouring Assam, seeks measures to ensure maintenance of law & order in the run-up to and post-publication of draft NRC.
A home ministry release on Wednesday said the Assam government had been advised to set up a state-level coordination committee under the chief secretary to ensure coordination among state agencies, NRC authorities, and Central agencies. “Round-the-clock control rooms in the state Capital and
district headquarters are to be activated to receive complaints and coordinate a prompt response,” it said.
Meanwhile, the home ministry has asked the Registrar
General of India (RGI) to use all means of communication including websites, toll-free numbers, SMS etc, to provide information to the public about the draft NRC. An intensive public awareness campaign has been launched to disseminate information regarding the NRC process, options available for individuals whose names do not figure in the draft NRC, and the procedure and timeline for filing claims and objections.
Home minister
Rajnath Singh had in a statement issued on Sunday held out an assurance that every individual in Assam would get justice and be treated in a humane manner. “All individuals will have sufficient opportunity for the remedies available under the law. The government wants to make it clear that after draft NRC publication on July 30, adequate opportunity for claims and objections will be available. All claims and objections will be duly examined,” he had said.
