Guwahati (Assam): Assam is witnessing high political temperatures, as the state gears up for the publication of the much-awaited National Register of Citizens (NRC) on August 31.
The lead-up to the historic day is evoking mixed views from across the political spectrum in the state.
Chief Adviser to the All Assam Students Union (AASU) Samujjal Bhattacharya expressed the union's dissatisfaction on the 'role' of the Centre and state government before the publication of the final NRC.
On the other hand, the Hindu Yuva Chatra Parishad raised strong objection to the base year for the identification of illegal immigrants in Assam. The base year for identification of illegal immigrants should have been 1951, the organisation's president Balen Baishya said.
The All Assam Minorities Students’ Union (AAMSU) said they would definitely 'take action' against the NRC authority, if anyone's name is missing from the final NRC despite submitting all legal documents.
Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti adviser Akhil Gogoi went ahead and accused the BJP and RSS of 'conspiring' against the NRC.
However, Assam BJP chief Ranjit Kumar Das reiterated that his party would stand by all Indian citizens whose names fail to appear on the final list. "This is a question of patriotism. It is our duty and responsibility to protect each and every Indian citizen. There is no question of vote bank politics. We support every Indian regardless of their caste, religion, or language," he said.
But controversial BJP MLA Shiladitya Dev alleged that 96-97 per cent of illegal immigrants have been included in the list, which has gone unnoticed.
On the other hand, Assam Gana Parishad has stuck to its stand of accepting the judgment of the Supreme Court. AGP leader Kumar Depak Das said, "What has been done till date in the NRC process has been satisfactory. We trust the Supreme Court and believe that it will provide a successful and fruitful NRC - this is what we want, and also what the Assam Accord wanted."
All India United Democratic Front (AIDUF) MLA Aminul Islam said that a few political parties were continuously trying to challenge the process of the NRC. He further lashed out at NRC officials, including coordinator Pratik Hajela for finalising the hearings of people from lower Assam in various districts of upper Assam. He also alleged that Hajela was facing political pressure from the ruling party in the state.
Former Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said that the general public was living in fear and anxiety before publishing NRC. Adding that even those who have been residents of Assam for a long time, are facing sleepless nights, he said that if the NRC is not published in a proper way, the state could face an adverse law and order situation.
However, eminent advocate and activist Upamaynu Hazarika pointed fingers at the government, saying that it was more concerned about the illegal immigrants rather than the people of Assam. He further questioned the 60-day-time period for appeals, saying that there was no point in providing extra time to those whose names do not appear in the final list.
Assam, which is believed to have faced an influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th Century, is the only state having an NRC that was first prepared in 1951.
According to the NRC website, the "National Register of Citizens is the register containing names of Indian citizens. The only time that a NRC was prepared was in 1951 when after conduct of the Census of 1951, the NRC was prepared by recording particulars of all the persons enumerated during that Census.
