Assam govt, AASU voice for re-verification of NRC

Two years have gone by since the final NRC draft was published on August 31, 2019, leaving out over 19 lakh people, all efforts to overhaul the list, amid cries that the genuine names were excluded and have only hit the wall with the demand for re-verification of the document which has been pending in the Supreme Court.

 | 

GUWAHATI:

The Assam government and the All Assam Students Union (AASU) have sought re-verification of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), Assam Accord implementation, minister Atul Bora said here on November 17.

Two years have gone by since the final NRC draft was published on August 31, 2019, leaving out over 19 lakh people, all efforts to overhaul the list, amid cries that the genuine names were excluded and have only hit the wall with the demand for re-verification of the document which has been pending in the Supreme Court.

The NRC - prepared in accordance with Assam Accord provisions - catalogues names of the "genuine citizens" of the country. The initial document was made way back in 1951, based on Independent India's first census data.

Both the Central and Assam government have neither accepted it nor rejected it as the matter is pending before the apex court for disposal.

Several stakeholders claimed that the Supreme Court-monitored exercise carried out to update the list was a "faulty one", following which aggrieved individuals were told to approach foreigner tribunals set up for the purpose.’

However, the rejection slips required to approach the tribunals have not been issued yet.

“We have already demanded re-verification of the NRC. Now the AASU also echoed a similar voice,” Bora said after the second round of meeting of the Sub Committee on Implementation of The Assam government had set up an eight-member sub-committee on October 1 to examine and prepare a framework for the implementation of all clauses of the Assam Accord of 1985 with special emphasis on Clause 6 [high-level committee report], Clause 7, Clause 9 and Clause 10.

“We are committed to implementing all the clauses of the Assam Accord, Bora said.

“We discussed the formation of the Second Line of Defence along the Indi-Bangla border to check the influx of illegal migrants to the state. We also decided to strengthen the Foreigners Tribunals and intensify the detection of foreign nationals living in the state,” Bora said.
 “We discussed the implementation of clause 5 of Assam Accord '' the minister added.

In the meeting, leaders of the AASU urged the government to speed up the process for detection of foreign nationals, deletion of their names from electoral rolls, and deportation process.
The student body also stressed the need for strengthening the Foreign Tribunals (FTs) in the state.

The AASU also demanded one special superintendent of police in each district on the deportation of the foreign nationals who have been lodged in various detention camps.

The student body further demanded that the government take up an extradition treaty between India and Bangladesh to hand over foreign nationals to the neighbouring country.

The AASU regretted that the FTs are not functioning effectively. There was a proposal for 1,600 judges. But no judge was appointed till yet.

TNT-The Northeast Today is now on WhatsApp: CLICK HERE to receive more updates on your phone.

ALSO READ: CMs of Assam, Meghalaya visit Lower Langpih, agree to solve border dispute mutually