Over 40 lakh peoples' fate remains in limbo with the Centre today declining to comment on their citizenship status after exclusion of the names from the "complete draft" of National Register of Citizens (NRC), which contains names of 2.89 crore eligible persons.
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At a press conference, 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 ambitious NRC out of a total 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.
Assam CM's reaction
"Assam is a peaceful state and I am confident that all sections of the society will come forward to maintain peace and tranquillity. We always abide by the directions of the Supreme Court, and whatever it says, we will sincerely follow and observe it," Sonowal told reporters.
"NRC is a national programme. It is the duty and obligation of every Indian citizen to maintain peace in the wake of its publication. I appeal to all sections of the society to desist from making any inflammatory or communal remarks," he added.
(Pic Source: PTI)
Rajnath Singh speaks up
Rajnath Singh said the NRC was being demanded in Assam for a long time and the previous state government had set up foreign tribunals following the Supreme Court order.
"In publishing NRC, the government has done nothing. Everything is being done as per Supreme Court order. The allegation of the opposition against the government is baseless," Singh said.
He appealed to opposition members not to create "panic" since it is a "sensitive issue".
Speaking to ANI, Rajnath Singh said: "Even someone whose name is not in the list can approach the foreigner's tribunal. No coercive action will be taken against anyone, hence there is no need for anyone to panic."
(Pic source: DNA)
How to check your name on NRC Draft Online
Step 1) Keep your ARN number ready. It’s printed on France of the NRC form you filled up.
Step 2) Go to NRCASSAM.NIC.IN and log in with your credentials. You can also check on assam.mygov.in and assam.gov.in
Step 3) Enter ARN Number and your status will be displayed.
Step 4) The applicants can also call 24x7 toll free numbers--15107 from Assam and 18003453762 from outside Assam-- by referring to their 21-digit Application Receipt Number (ARN).7)
Not the end of the road, just a draft NRC
The NRC is a list of the state's citizens and exclusion of name does not automatically make anyone a foreigner, a Home Ministry official said.
The power of declaring a person as foreigner is vested with the foreigners' tribunal set up for the purpose and all aggrieved persons can approach it if they have exhausted the options available with NRC authorities, he said.
Allaying fears, an official said, "It is only a draft NRC, not the final one. The claims and objections process will begin on August 30 and continue till September 28. Adequate, ample scope will be given to people for their objections. No genuine Indian citizens should have any fear." He also said that a status quo will be maintained until the final NRC is published, the timing of which will be decided after assessing the volume of review applications.