More than 40 lakh of 3.29 crore applicants have been left out of the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam that was released on Monday.
The draft NRC was released by the Registrar General of India, Shailesh, and NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela in Guwahati.
As many as 3,29,91,384 people had applied for the NRC, while applications of 2,89,83,677 were accepted, said Mr. Shailesh.
The remaining 40,007,707 applicants, whose names didn't figure in the list will be given "ample opportunity" through a process of claims and objections till September 28, and their citizenship status will not be questioned till the final, error-free draft is prepared on an unspecified date, Mr. Shailesh and Mr. Hajela said.
The 40 lakh not on the list include 2.48 lakh Doubtful-voters (D-voters) and their siblings and descendants.
'List not final'
"The process has been completely transparent, fair, objective and meticulously carried out. Adequate opportunity to all applicants were given," Mr. Shailesh said reiterated that the list released on Monday was only a draft and not the final one.
"Reassuring those not in the draft, they will get ample opportunity to file claims and objectives with adequate time. People who lack knowledge will be provided assistance. Full justice will be meted to all," Mr. Shailesh added.
No penal action
To a question if the applicants left out in the draft NRC would be intimated, Mr. Hajela said: "We consider them as applicants. Each of them will be sent letters individually for the next step. We are trying to tell them they might have missed out because of some reasons such as unsubstantiated documents. We will provide assistance to them to file claims and objections."
Mr. Hajela also said the names of applicants left out in the draft list will not be revealed to protect their privacy. "We cannot provide district wise breakup of these 40 lakh for the same reason," he added.
Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, said there will be no penal action against those who missed out until their cases are sorted out. "We want law and order to be maintained, and no one will be allowed to create trouble," he said.
The draft can be found online at www.nrcassam.nic.in, www.assam.mygov.in, www.assam.gov.in, and www.homeandpolitical.assam.gov.in. The helpline numbers are 15107 (within Assam) and 18003453762.