Assam final NRC draft to be out today

Guwahati: Amid the fear and hope that lakhs of migrants would be detected and identified, the stage has been set for the publication of the final draft of the National Register of Citizens in Assam on Monday. The state coordinator for the NRC has announced that the draft will be published at around 12 noon.

Fate of lakhs of people in Assam hangs in balance as the final draft of the National Register of Citizens comes out today. 

History

The National Registry of Citizens was first prepared in 1951. 

The latest updation of the list in Assam will have names of descendants of those who were in the 1951 list, or those who were in electoral rolls till March 24, 1971.

1.9 crore out of the 3.29 crore applicants in Assam have been confirmed Indian citizenship in the first round of lists on January 1 this year.

1.5 lakh people from the list will be dropped, said authorities in July due to discrepancies in paperwork. 

Names of around 50,000 rural women will also be dropped as officials had asked them to submit documents such as marriage and school TC certificates, which they do not have.

Opposition

Sections of Assam were not happy with the NRC as they claim it would make illegal migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan eligible for citizenship after six years of stay in India.

The Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 was one of the election promises made by Narendra Modi ahead of the 2014 general elections.
Tight security 

220 companies of the Central forces have been deployed in Assam and neighbouring states.

Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal held a high level meeting recently on the NRC draft release and directed officers to remain alert

The chief minister has also directed the officials not to refer any case to the Foreigners Tribunal based on the NRC draft list.

The draft will be published at noon across the state which will contain the applicant’s name, address and photographs, NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela said.