Guwahati: Over 40 lakh people’s fate remains in limbo with the Centre Monday declining to comment on their citizenship status after their names were excluded from the final draft of National Register of Citizens (NRC).
At a press conference here, Registrar General of India Sailesh announced that 2,89,83,677 people were found to be eligible for inclusion in the complete draft of the NRC out of 3,29,91,384 applicants.
Around 40.07 lakh applicants, however, did not find a place in the document, touted to be a proof of Assamese identity. “This is a historic day for India and Assam. The exercise is unparalleled in the size. It is a legal process done under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court,’’ Sailesh said.
Asked about the reasons for excluding names of 40 lakh applicants, NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela, who was also present at the press meet, said, “We are not going to make the reasons public. It will be informed individually. They can find the reasons by visiting NRC Sewa Kendras (NSK).” He, however, clarified that people belonging to four categories were not included in the draft as their eligibility were put on hold by the Supreme Court.
“These four categories are ‘D’ (doubtful) voters, descendants of ‘D’ voters, references pending at Foreigners Tribunals and descendants of the references pending at Foreigners Tribunals,” Hajela said.Without sharing further details, he stated that there are names which were included in the first draft but have been deleted from the complete one and they will be intimated through individual letters in the coming days. When inquired if any person, who appeared in the complete draft, could be excluded from the final list once the process of claims and objections were over, the RGI replied in the affirmative.
Talking about the status of people who were excluded from the list, Union Home Ministry Joint Secretary (North East) Satyendra Garg said, “We are not calling them Indians or non-Indians. At present, no action will be taken as the claims, objections and correction process has to be undertaken.’’
The authorities will not forward any name to the foreigners’ tribunals on the basis of the complete draft and the government’s focus is to maintain peace and order in the society, he added.
This isn’t final: HM
New Delhi: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the draft of the National Register of Citizens published Monday was not the final list and there was no need to create panic. Urging the Opposition not to politicise it, he also assured that people whose names are not in the final draft will get the opportunity to prove their citizenship. “Whatever work is going on in the NRC, is happening under the supervision of the Supreme Court. To say that the government has done it, and it is inhuman and brutal…such allegations are baseless,” he said.