NRC: Shock overwhelms many who miss the Assam citizenship berth

Javed found himself as one among the 40 lakhs (four million) people, whose names are missing from the draft. The NRC rendered him an illegal immigrant.

Javed says that more than fear, it's shock which overwhelmed him, following the results. At least six members of his family find their names on the list, while his is missing, despite submitting all 'essential documents'.

“I was shocked after missing my name in the complete draft, but I did not panic. I had submitted all documents during the application submission process. I don’t know why my name is missing. I will submit my claim and objection before the NRC official once more,” Javed Ali says.

Sparking fears of deportation and a law and order crisis, India on Monday announced exclusion of about four million people from citizenship in the northeastern state of Assam, bordering Bangladesh, after a draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) was published.

Those excluded from the list could not prove their citizenship by providing valid documents and they are mostly Muslim immigrants who came to Assam before 1971, when countless fled Bangladesh during its freedom war.

Breaking the news on Monday, Registrar General of India, (RGI) Shailesh (who uses one name) said that, 2,89,83,677 people were found eligible for inclusion in the complete draft of NRC out of 3,29,91,384 applicants.

Thus there is over 40.07 lakh (four million) people who have missed the berth.

However, in a 'light-at-the-end-of-the-tunnel' announcement, the RGI further said that people who do not find their names in the complete draft of NRC, have the legal right to apply again by filing a claim during the period- August 30 to September 28- this year.

He further stated that they will be able to know the reasons for non-inclusion by visiting NRC Seva Kendras and enquiring from Local Registrar.

“The publishing of complete draft NRC is conducted under the monitoring and supervision and direction of the Supreme Court. It is a legal process under the Citizenship Act 1955 and the Citizenship Rules 2003,” Shailesh said during the press conference.

Shailesh further said that it is a draft and not a final list.

“Every person whose name is not in the draft NRC, they will get ample opportunity for filing claim. No genuine Indian citizen should have any fear or any panic in regard to filing claim and objections and will be provided adequate time. They will get full justice,” the RGI assured.

The process of NRC updation was taken up in Assam as per order of the Supreme Court in 2013.

The said process in Assam differs from the rest of the country and is governed by Rules 4A and the corresponding Schedule of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003. These rules have been framed as per the cut-off date March 24, 1971 decided as per Assam Accord.

Tafajjul Ali, a resident of Fatasil Ambari area in Assam’s capital city Guwahati, is also among the excluded names. Like Javed Ali, he too has his family members' names on the list.

“Name of two others in my family have appeared in the list, but my name was missing,” Taffajul says, adding he will find out what went wrong.

                        Image: An illegal immigrant being deported to Bangladesh from Assam 

The first draft of NRC was published on December 31 midnight by including 1.90 crore people out of 3.29 crore applicants.

The NRC updation process is continuing in Assam under the Supreme Court monitoring to identify the illegal foreigners residing in the state.

According to the Supreme Court, all Indian Citizens, including their children and descendants, who have moved to Assam post March 24 1971, would be eligible for inclusion in the updated NRC on adducing satisfactory proof of residence in any part of the country (outside Assam) as on March 24, 1971.

Large scale of illegal immigrants from the Bangladesh into Assam have threatened the demographic complexion of the state. Unabated influx from Bangladesh also threated both the identity of the indigenous people of Assam and the national security.

It adversely affects the social, economic and political environment in Assam.

The activity has continued unchecked since the past couple of decades.

 Assam had witnessed a massacre in 1983 claiming the lives of 2,191 people officially over the "foreign nationals" issue as local groups demanded deletion of illegal migrants from the electoral rolls.