Unlisted will get chance to prove citizenship: Rajnath

Allaying concerns of Opposition parties on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) for Assam that has excluded 40 lakh people from the list, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Monday asserted in the Lok Sabha the entire exercise is impartial and done under the supervision of the Supreme Court and those not finding their names in the NRC will get another  opportunity to prove their bona fide as citizens.

The Minister was responding  following an uproar  in the House with the Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) raising the issue and members of Congress, CPI(M) and RJD   lashing out at the Government over the publication of the list, saying it puts “human rights and democratic rights” of people at stake.

The TMC had moved an adjournment motion on the issue which was not accepted by the Speaker. Later, unsatisfied with the Minister’s response, the Opposition staged a walkout.

Claiming that the Government has no role in making of the draft NRC, Singh said the NRC was being demanded in Assam for a long and the previous State Government had set up foreign tribunals following the Supreme Court order.

“Everything is being done as per Supreme Court order. The allegation of the Opposition against the Government is baseless,” the Home Minister said.

Appealing to Opposition members not to create “panic” since it is a “sensitive issue,” the Union Minister said the NRC list published on Monday is not the final list and applicants will have the option of raising claims and objections.

“People who feel their name should have been part of the NRC can file claims and objections. In how much time those claims and objections would be disposed off that will be decided by the Supreme Court,” Rajnath said.

Raising the NRC issue during the Zero Hour, Sudip Bandyopadhyay (TMC) asked where the 40 lakh people will go and sought the Centre to ensure that justice should not be denied to the people who have been living in Assam for decades now.

“It is inhuman and is a torture on people. I request the Centre that amendments be moved so that these 40 lakh people get to stay in Assam,” he said.

Congress leader Mallikarjun Kharge said “original citizens” of the State are being asked questions and this is creating division in the State based on caste and creed.

Mohd Saleem (CPI-M) said the situation in Assam is fragile and “human rights and democratic rights” of the people of the State are at stake.

Jaiprakash Narayan Yadav (RJD) said the move would lead to “hatred” and “violence” in Assam and dubbed it as a “war on people” who are living in the State for the last 40 years.