Assam NRC final draft: Communal colour in upgrading register sparks fear it's aimed at furthering BJP agenda

The second and final draft of Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) was released amid tight security on Monday. NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela, Registrar General Sailesh and Satyendra Garg, joint secretary (NE) of the Ministry of Home Affairs presided over a press conference after releasing the much-anticipated list. Sailesh said around 40 lakh people did not find mention in the final draft of NRC. “2,89,83,677 out of 3.29 crore applicants are eligible,” he said.

Assam NRC Release Live Updates

10:04 (IST)

2,89,83,677 citizens have been found eligible among 3. 29 cr total applicants. Those who have been left out can apply for claims and objections: State NRC Coordinator Prateek Hajela

10:00 (IST)

“Historic Day In Assam”: Prateek Hajela
“It’s a historic day in the country and Assam towards fulfillment of a major milestone of publishing draft under monitoring of Supreme Court. The exercise of the NRC in its scale size is unprecedented”: Prateek Hajela

09:52 (IST)

Nearly two crore citizens were cleared in the first citizenship draft released on January 1 this year.

09:31 (IST)

The NRC authorities earlier this month disclosed that 1.5 lakh people – including 50,000 people – will be dropped from the first list, since anomalies were found in their documents.

09:17 (IST)

A high-level meeting was held recently by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on the NRC draft.

09:16 (IST)

Names, addresses and photographs of all Indian citizens, who have been living in Assam before March 25, 1971, will be featured in the citizenship draft, NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela was quoted as saying by news agency PTI.

Emphasising that genuine Indian citizens will not be be stripped of their citizenship rights, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal tweeted: “I reiterate that no genuine Indian citizen will be devoid of their citizenship rights. So no one should panic after publication of the final draft of NRC. I also urge people not to make any communal statements and remain watchful against falling prey to rumours.” Similarly, Assam DGP K Saikia also expressed his confidence that no breach of peace and tranquility will take place.

The stage is set for the release of the second and final draft of Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) on Monday amid tight security. The NRC will be released online and in all the NRC Sewa Kendras (NSK) across the state at 10 am (instead of noon as announced earlier), NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela said in Guwahati on Sunday.

The first draft of the ongoing NRC process was released at the midnight of 31 December, 2017. It comprised 1.9 crore names out of the total application of 3.29 crore people in Assam.