Palash Biswas
Though,it is claimed that the government will take tough action against the alleged malpractice in the name of steps to update NRC.
Meanwhile,ASSAM is on the verge of yet another crisis as Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government's latest decision on the on-going process of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, to send a request letter to the Central government requesting the latter to update the NRC by including names of all persons whose names appeared on the electoral rolls of the country by virtue of them 'being Indians'.
Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi after chairing a review meeting on the on-going process of updating the NRC in the state, decided to send the request to the Government of India so that names of no genuine Indian citizens get deleted from the updated NRC.However, the stand of the chief minister Tarun Gogoi has been viewed by several organisations in the state as an attempt by the ruling Congress government to include names of illegal Bangladeshi migrants who have managed to get their names enrolled in the voters' list in the state, in the updated NRC.
The All Assam Students' Union (AASU), Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP), Assam Public Works (APW), Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) and many other apolitical and political organisations on Wednesday raised vociferous protests against Tarun Gogoi-led Congress government's attempt to include names of illegal migrants' who are already enrolled in the voters' list in the updated NRC.
They warned off intensive agitation over the issue.
The AASU alleged that it was an attempt by the ruling Congress to protect its vote base among illegal Bangladeshi migrants by derailing the on-going process of NRC updating.The AASU adviser Dr Samujjal Bhattacharrya said, "The NRC is being updated in the state on the basis of voters' lists from 1951 to 1971 in order to include names of those Indian citizens who were resident of Assam before March 24, 1971, as well as their progeny.
The NRC updating process is now being monitored by the Supreme Court. The updated NRC will be instrumental in detecting illegal Bangaldeshi migrants who had sneaked into Assam after March 24, 1971, the cutoff date for the purpose as per Assam Accord signed between Government of India and leaders of Assam Agitation in 1985."The AASU leader said the NRC in the state was being updated as per the decision taken in the tripartite talks among the AASU, Government of India and Assam Government on May 5, 2005.
Chief minister disclosed it when he reviewed the progress of the ongoing process in Dispur on Tuesday.
He directed all the Deputy Commissioners to look into the matter and take remedial measures.
The Chief Minister also directed the officials to ensure that the names of all genuine Indian citizens are included and those of the foreigners are excluded from the NRC.
Media reports,the Government of Assam has decided to send a letter to the Government of India to take steps for inclusion of all persons whose names appeared in the electoral rolls of the country by virtue of them 'being Indians', in the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which is being updated, said an official press release here.
Chairing a review meeting of the NRC updating process here today, Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said names of the genuine Indian citizens whose names figure in the electoral rolls, should be included in the NRC.
Allaying apprehensions of some indigenous communities of the State, Gogoi said, "There is no need for apprehensions among people belonging to tea tribes, scheduled tribes, minorities and other ethnic communities as the government will take all possible steps to ensure that their names are included in the NRC."
In response to the reported resentment of the people regarding difficulties they faced in filling up the NRC forms, Chief Minister Gogoi also directed initiation of appropriate steps for deputing State government officials to every household for filling up the NRC forms.
Chief Minister also directed the officials to ensure that the names of all genuine Indian citizens are included and those of the foreigners are excluded from the NRC. Moreover, taking a tough stand on the reported malpractice in the name of NRC update in some parts of the State, he directed all the Deputy Commissioners to look into the matter and take remedial measures.
