Assam NRC List Release: NRC is also preparing a common database of citizens.
New Delhi: Assam has released the final draft of National Register of Citizens today nearly seven months after around 1.9 crore citizens were cleared in the first citizenship draft list. Officials have clarified nobody will be deported on the basis of second draft and people will be given opportunity to put forth their claims.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has urged calm after the release of second citizenship draft. "The first draft of NRC was published (on the midnight of December 31, 2017) in a very peaceful environment. I appeal to the people of the state to maintain the same environment on the aftermath of publication of the final draft," the release said quoting the chief minister.
Security has been heightened in the state to avoid any law and order situation. Two hundred and twenty companies of the Central Armed Police Forces have been dispatched by the central government to gear up security in Assam and neighbouring states.
Here are the live updates on the release of Assam's final citizenship draft
The process of claims and objections to the draft NRC in Assam will start from August 30 and continue for a month, a senior Home Ministry official said. (PTI)
The process of claims and objections to the NRC will start on August 30 and the date was fixed taking into consideration that those whose names are not part of the draft NRC can gather documents in the next one month and prepare to approach NRC authorities, a home ministry official said. (PTI)
The Congress today asked the government to immediately convene an all-party meeting on the NRC issue and inform the opposition on the proposed steps to ensure that no Indian citizen is left out.
Senior party spokesperson Anand Sharma said there should be no politics over the issue.
"The government must immediately call a meeting of leaders of all parties and should inform about the steps it proposes to take," he said, adding that it would be proper if the meeting is called tomorrow.
NRC Assam on Facebook
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal Interacts with media in Guwahati.
People wait to check their names on the draft list at the National Register of Citizens (NRC) centre at a village in Nagaon district, Assam. (Reuters photo)
NRC process is being carried out with complete fairness and transparency. It has been monitored by the Honourable Supreme Court: Home Minister's office on twitter.
Assam's Finance Minister and firebrand BJP leader Himanta Biswa Sarma has categorically said that the government would try to strike a balance between the aspirations of the indigenous people of Assam and the humanitarian consideration of those who are left out while formulating the final solution to the issue of illegal immigration from Bangladesh
Assam Final NRC Draft Release: 40 Lakh Left Out Of Draft List Of Indian Citizens In Assam - 10 PointsAround 40 lakh people in Assam have been left out of a draft list of citizens released today, and face deportation if they cannot prove their citizenship. The state's National Register of Citizens or NRC has been updated for the first time since 1951 to account for illegal migration from neighbouring Bangladesh. Releasing the updated list, officials underscored that no one would be deported or arrested as this is only a draft.
Rajya Sabha was adjourned for the day amid uproar over Assam Citizenship issue, PTI reported.
Highlights Of Mamata Banerjee Presser - "Many people have been identified as foreigners and they are to be sent back."
- "There are many children and women among them"
- "India is our country, I am an Indian. Why have all the connections been cut down?"
- "Bengal and Assam share borders. I speak the same language"
- "This is a divide and rule policy. People are being isolated"
- "This will destroy humanity"
- "Home Minister (Rajnath Singh) said we and Congress are creating a panic. If he says there is no reason to panic then why are extra forces being sent to Assam?"
- "I am fighting for all human beings"
Mamata Banerjee Explains Why She Is Concerned About Assam Citizenship Draft
"This is highly unfortunate. Ultimately, Banladesh and West Bengal will bear the repercussions because of the draft," Mamata Banerjee said.
"There were people who have Aaadhar cards and passports but still their names are not in the draft list. Names of people were removed on the basis of surnames also. Is the government trying to do forceful eviction?" West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee
Mamata Banerjee Addresses Press Conference, Questions Citizenship Draft Mamata Banerjee questions citizenship draft as she addresses press conference.
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 2 pm amid uproar over Assam citizenship draft.
People check their names on the draft list at a National Register of Citizens centre in Guwahati.
"Do Not Politicise Sensitive Issues": Rajnath Singh In Lok Sabha
"I want to ask the Opposition, what is the centre's role in this? It is happening under the supervision of the Supreme Court. Such sensitive issues should not be politicised": Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha
Trinamool Congress leader Sudip Bandyopadhyay raised the NRC issue during the zero hour in Lok Sabha today.
Assam is the first Indian state where the NRC is being updated after 1951, with March 24, 1971 as the cut-off date, to include names of "genuine Indian citizens", news agency PTI reported.
Rajya Sabha Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu first said he had not received any notice and later said that some members had met him expressing desire to raise the NRC issue. "I myself have requested the Home Minister to come (to respond to members' concern)," he said adding he was ready for a discussion, news agency PTI reported.
Rajya Sabha was adjourned till noon today after opposition parties led by Trinamool Congress created an uproar over non-inclusion of nearly 40 lakh citizens in the citizenship draft.
"40 lakh names ineligible is a very high figure and very surprising. There are lot of irregularities in the report. We will raise this issue with the government and in the parliament," Ripun Bora,Assam Congress Chief, was quoted as saying by news agency ANI. He also claimed a "political motive of the BJP" behind the move.
Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju has also assured the people in Assam that "everyone will get a chance."
"I want to emphasise that this is a draft. It is not the final draft everyone will get the opportunity to file claim and objections after that final NRC will be released. I want to reassure that there is no need of any fear. May be some people could not have given their documents. Everyone will be given an opportunity": Rajnath Singh
Trinamool Congress lawmaker Sougata Roy has given an adjournment motion notice in Lok Sabha over the NRC Assam list draft released today, news agency ANI reported.
'The application process for the NRC started in May 2015 and a total of 6.5 crore documents were received from 68.27 lakh families across Assam": Registrar General of India Sailesh
"The first draft of NRC was published (on the midnight of December 31, 2017) in a very peaceful environment. I appeal to the people of the state to maintain the same environment on the aftermath of publication of the final draft," an official release said quoting Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal.
"Do Not Panic," Officials Tell People In Assam
Officials have requested people not to panic if their names did not appear on the list as "all genuine applicants would get ample time for claims and objections".
As the state released final citizenship draft, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal urged people to refrain from making "inflammatory" remarks, an official release said, news agency PTI reported.
Officials have said 40 lakh people not included in the citizenship draft will be given "opportunity" to prove their citizenship claims.
The updated list has been seen by critics as a move to target Assam's Muslim population on the pretext of weeding out Bangladeshi migrants.
"This Is Only A Draft," Say Officials Officials have asserted that this is only a draft, and claims and objections from those left out of the citizen's list would be taken up from August 30. Read
here.
Nearly 40 lakh citizens have been left out in the draft list: Satyendra Garg, Joint Secretary of Northeast Affairs of Ministry of Home Affairs
No deportation will be carried out on the basis of second draft, the state has clarified.
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
"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
Assam Releases Final Citizenship Draft
Nearly two crore citizens were cleared in the first citizenship draft released on January 1 this year.
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.
A high-level meeting was held recently by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on the NRC draft.
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.