NEW DELHI: Even as the government urged the opposition parties to “not politicize” the release of
NRC list in
Assam, ‘unconvinced’ opposition parties have raised concerns that people are being made refugees in their own country.
The
Assam government on Monday released
+ its second and final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in which as many as 40 lakh people couldn't find a place in the register. The final draft of the list is expected to be released on December 31 this year, the ministry of home affairs announced today.
The list was released by the government
to verify the authentic citizens
+ in the state of Assam, which shares a long and porous border with neighbouring Bangladesh.
Congress chief Rahul Gandhi, calling the implementation of the NRC list "tardy, said that the register has created "massive insecurity in the state".
“The National Register of Citizens (NRC) was initiated by the UPA under Manmohan Singh Ji to fulfil the commitment made in the Assam Accord of 1985. However, the manner in which this exercise has been undertaken by the BJP Governments at the centre and in the State of Assam leaves much to be desired," he wrote in a Facebook post.
The Congress president demanded an swift resolution of the crisis. "There are reports pouring in from all corners of Assam of Indian citizens finding their names missing in the draft NRC, creating massive insecurity in the state. Clearly, after spending close to 1,200 Cr, the execution of this critical and highly sensitive exercise has been tardy. The Government must move swiftly to resolve this crisis,” he said.
The Congress president also urged the people to maintain peace. “I appeal to all members of the Congress party to help maintain peace and help all those against whom an injustice has been done in the draft NRC, no matter what their religion, caste, gender, linguistic group or political affiliation,” he added.
Even the former chief minister of the state and Congress leader, Tarun Gogoi, urged the people to remain calm.
"National Register of Citizens is our brainchild. 40 lakh ppl whose name have been excluded should not worry. They will get a chance. NRC is to find out the number of foreigners in Assam. As long as our name is in voters' list, we are citizens of India," he was quoted as saying by ANI.
Congress leader Ashok Gehlot tweeted a blog titled: "NRC: Another attempt at polarization", saying that the register is a threat to the very "idea of India".
West Bengal chief minister
Mamata Banerjee called the list a "game plan" to throw out Bengali speaking people and Biharis out of the state.
"People are being isolated through a game plan. We are worried because people are being made refugees in their own country. It is a plan to throw out Bengali speaking people and Biharis. The consequences (of this move) will be felt in our state also," she said.
SS Roy who is a leader from Banerjee's TMC said that the list will have "serious ramifications" on the demography of the different states adjoining Assam.
"Central
Govt has intentionally eliminated more than 40 lakh religious and linguistic minorities from NRC
+ which will have serious ramifications on the demography of different states adjoining Assam, PM should come to house & clarify it," Roy demanded.
The government, on the other hand, responded by asking people to maintain peace and the opposition to “not politicize” the issue.
Home minister
Rajnath Singh asserted that the list was released under the supervision of the Supreme Court and his government doesn't have a role in it.
"I want to ask the opposition, what is the Centre's role in this? It is happening under the supervision of the Supreme Court. Such sensitive issues should not be politicized" Rajnath Singh said.
Another minister seconded Singh's concerns. Jitendra Singh, who is a MoS PMO, accused the Congress of trying to "politicize" the NRC list.
"Opposition particularly Congress is trying to politicise the issue," said Jitendra Singh, MoS PMO.
The Congress party's Assam chief, Ripun Bora, expressed his dissatisfaction with the released list and said his party will raise the issue with the Government and in Parliament.
"Forty lakh names ineligible is a very high figure and very surprising. There are a lot of irregularities in the report. We will raise this issue with the Govt and in the Parliament. The political motive of BJP is also behind this," said Bora.
All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) chief Badruddin Ajmal alleged that the agency responsible for implementing NRC had people from right-wing organization, RSS.
"We are thankful to SC that it intervened in the matter. NRC implementing agency was under Assam govt that had RSS people.They've tried to remove names of people belonging to minorities. People whose names aren't on the list shouldn't be scared," Ajmal said.
Earlier, the AIUDF leader had welcomed the release of the draft NRC but had said non-inclusion of over 40 lakh people "is not a small matter though we must take into account that this is not the final NRC and we must wait for it".
"We are yet to analyse the names of people left out and the areas where it has happened. If we find out that some particular areas have been targeted, we will make a decision on it," he told PTI.
There are concerns that the release of the list may result in violence against the people who couldn't figure in the second draft. Keeping these concerns in mind, both the government and the opposition have repeatedly urged the people to maintain calm and not fall prey to false rumours.
Home minister Rajnath Singh urged the people to maintain peace. "I want to emphatically say that this is only a draft and not the Final NRC. Everyone will have the opportunity to file Claims / Objections as per provision in the law. Only after the disposal of claims and objections, the Final NRC will be published," he said.
Congress leader and MP for Assam's Kaliabor said, "My humble appeal to all media channels today is to be sensitive regarding the draft list of NRC in Assam. People have responded positively and been very cooperative. The previous Congress Govt initiated a historic exercise. My thanks to all Govt employees who have worked so hard," tweeted Gaurav Gogoi, MP for Assam's Kaliabor.
