India excludes 4m from Assam’s draft citizens list

International Desk: India’s registrar general said on Monday that 4,007,707 people had been excluded from a draft national register of citizens in the border state of Assam, in a move that has raised fears for the future of people in the region.

Sailesh, the registrar general and census commissioner of India, said those excluded from the list would not be deported from the country and would have a chance to file an appeal.
More than 30 million had provided documents to prove their citizenship.

An RGI official said that out of 32.9 million population of the state, which shares border with Bangladesh and Bhutan, 28.9 million names were included in the final draft of the NRC.

In the first list announced on December 31 of 2017, 19 million people were designated as legal citizens.

The NRC has been updated after nearly seven decades as part of a campaign to identify undocumented immigrants from Bangladesh, but critics say those who are not included on the list may be rendered stateless.

The list can be checked online or by visiting one of the 2,500 NRC Seva Kendras (service centres) set up across the state. The results can also be accessed via SMS on request.
All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) General Secretary Aminul Islam said that his party was shocked to see the number of people left off the list.

"It's quite a huge number. We are shocked," said Islam from the AIUDF party, which fights for the rights of Bengali origin people in the state.

"There are several objections. The update process was being done under the supervision of the Supreme Court but it was unfortunate to see the intervention of the state government on several occasions. We will approach the court later," Islam said.

"But for the time being we appeal to the people to maintain peace and harmony."

Rajnath Singh, India's interior minister, said those whose names are not included on the list should not worry.

"Even if someone didn't find their names in the final NRC, they can go to the foreigners tribunals," Singh told local media. "All individuals will be given a fair chance."

On Sunday, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda also said there will be time to file objections to the list.

"They will get adequate opportunities to file claims and objections pertaining to their rights," he wrote on Twitter.

Security had been put on high alert, with section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code imposed in seven of the state's 33 districts. Under section 144, assembly of more than four people is prohibited.

Some 300 NRC Seva Kendras (service centres) have been marked as sensitive across Assam, while 55,000 members of the police forces have been called into action.

More than 22,000 additional paramilitary personnel have also been deployed across the northeastern state.

Source: Agencies


risingbd/July 30, 2018/Mukul