Assam NRC final list 2019 Updates: BJP should learn its lesson, myth of illegal immigrants busted, says Asaduddin Owaisi

Aadhaar to those who get entry in final NRC

Aadhaar cards will be issued to all those who were excluded in the draft NRC but could get entry in the final list. This will happen as NRC authorities have taken biometric data from more than 36 lakh people who have claimed Indian citizenship after their exclusion from the draft NRC published on July 30, 2018.

However, those who may be excluded from the final National Register of Citizens (NRC) and can not prove their Indian citizenship after pursuing legal process will not be eligible for obtaining Aadhaar cards anywhere in the country as their biometrics will be flagged.

Every section of Assam is unhappy with the status of NRC: Gaurav Gogoi

Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi also took to Twitter to say, “Every section of Assam is unhappy with the status of NRC. Even BJP ministers are complaining. Careless implementation that many genuine Indian citizens will have to unnecessarily face the courts. Congress will provide all help. Nation above politics is our motto. NRC is another.”

Protect genuine Indian citizens, says Adhir Ranjan Choudhury 

Leader of Congress Party in Lok Sabha Shri @adhirrcinc speaks to the media about the NRC list released by the govt. pic.twitter.com/uuh7kA6ufv

— Congress (@INCIndia) August 31, 2019

So-called myth of illegal immigrants busted, says Asaduddin Owaisi

Asaduddin Owaisi of the AIMIM said that the BJP should stop asking for NRC throughout the country in terms of Hindus & Muslims. They should learn from what has happened in Assam. “BJP should learn a lesson. They should stop asking for NRC throughout the country in terms of Hindus & Muslims. They should learn from what has happened in Assam. The so-called myth of illegal migrants has been busted,” he said.

Thin line between nationalism and xenophobia, Shashi Tharoor quotes Tagore on NRC

Reacting to the final NRC list, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said, “There is a thin line between nationalism and xenophobia —besides, hatred of the foreigner could later turn into a hatred of Indians different from oneself.” — Rabindranath Tagore. The prescience of a great man!"

Veteran who fought in Kargil, current and ex-MLAS among 19 lakh missing from NRC

Ananta Kumar Malo, the AIUDF MLA from South Abhayapuri, and his son’s name were not in the final list of NRC published today. Another person to be missing on the list of citizens was retired army officer Mohammad Sanaullah, who has been declared a foreigner in the previous draft. He said he was not surprised to not find his name on the NRC list. He said, “I was not expecting my name to be in the list as my case is still pending in the High Court, I have full faith in the judiciary and I’m confident that I will get justice. "

Hindu, Muslim organisations raise credibility concerns

In a surprising turn of events, Hindu and Muslim groups find themselves on the same page ahead of the publication of the final list of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) on Saturday. Both groups have expressed serious concern that many might find themselves excluded from the final list and have thus threatened to agitate. Significantly, ethnic groups in Assam, which have been demanding the NRC update, have kept a safe distance from such concerns.

Ex-CM Tarun Gogoi not happy with NRC

Tarun Gogoi, former chief minister of Assam, said that he was not happy with the way National Register of Citizens final list has been published. He said that many Indians had been excluded and a large number of foreigners were  included. “This will lead to much more problem now.” he said.“The Home Ministry has miserably failed to prepare the NRC. Now they are trying to hoodwink the people,” he added. He also said that the final list was a failure of the state government.

SC should allow re-verification for ‘correct and fair NRC’: Himanta Biswa Sarma

Alleging that the names of refugees from Bangladesh who migrated before 1971 have not been included in the NRC, Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, urged the Supreme Court to allow re-verification for “a correct and fair NRC.”

#NRCAssam

I reiterate that as requested by Central and State governments at least 20% reverification (bordering districts) and 10% re-verification(remaining districts) should be allowed by Honble Apex court for a correct and fair NRC. 2/2

— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) August 31, 2019

All you need to know about Assam NRC

EC yet to decide on voting rights for those excluded from the NRC

The Election Commission is yet to decide on voting rights for those who have been excluded from the final NRC list but whose names figure in the voters’ list, reported the Times of India. Under the rules, the EC can issue a notice asking why their names should not be struck off the electoral rolls. However, officials said that no decision has been taken yet and the EC would wait and watch as to how they are dealt with in regards to access to government services and benefits.

Surprised at gap between initial estimate of illegal immigrants and actual names excluded: AASU

“In the last 40 years, six years of Assam Agitation and 34 years after that Assam has been demanding identification and expulsion of illegal migrants. It was decided that all people who were not in India before 24 March 1971 will be identified and expelled. We were hopeful of a positive result because it was done under the supervision of the Supreme Court. It is surprising that the final number of exclusion is so less than it was originally estimated,” said AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya addressing the media in Guwahati.

State govt lost opportunity to hand indigenes a foreigner-free NRC, says AASU

“Since the Central and state governments failed to update the NRC for the last six decades since 1951 such mistakes have crept into the latest documents. Had it been done every 10 years it would not have been so. The political parties have failed to fulfil their responsibility. We demanded that reverification be done using government agencies but it was not done. However, we have faith in the Supreme Court and we will approach it. Only due to the apex court things at least this took a shape. The Assam government failed to avail the opportunity to hand the people of the state a foreigner-free NRC. In fact in the last one year only 75 people were referred to the Foreigners’ Tribunal,” said AASU general secretary Lurin Jyoti Gogoi.

AASU disappointed with NRC final list

“There are faults in the latest NRC. AASU is disappointed with the document. When AASU wanted only 10 documents to be given for reverification, the Centre and the state governments insisted on 15 in the Supreme Court. Officers who were diligent working were transferred out. The NRC is incomplete but we have complete faith in the judiciary. We will approach the Supreme Court to appeal for rectification of these mistakes,” president of All Assam Students’ Union Dipankar Kumar Nath said at a press conference in Guwahati.

Intention was never to throw these people out, says man behind NRC petition

Pradip Kumar Bhuyan, an 1958 IIT-Kharagpur graduate and now an octogenarian, was the man behind the petition that started the National Register of Citizens(NRC) updation. He spoke to The Indian Express exclusively. Weighing in on the complexities of the process, Bhuyan, who helped draft the original petition seeking updation of NRC, says that his intention was not to trigger a humanitarian crisis. He says the ggovernment’s constant neglect has made the problem burgeon into an unsalvagable mess, which has huge human rights implications. 

“The exercise is so massive that it is bound to affect people. It is so massive that if there is even 1% discrepancy, it means affecting the lives of three lakh people! What happened in the last few years can be traced to the faults in operation and implementation. I never want anyone to be persecuted — especially women and children. The Indian government needs to take responsibility for this. Why did successive governments ignore this issue since 1985?”

Over 19 lakh under threat of being held in detention camps 

Those who have been rejected by the tribunals and have exhausted all other legal avenues can be declared foreigners and — in theory — be placed in one of six detention centres with a view to possible deportation, although Bangladesh is yet to signal its cooperation. 

Ten new such camps have been announced. One with space for 3,000 is being constructed in Goalpara, west of Assam’s capital Guwuhati. The camps currently hold 1,135 people, according to the state government, and have been operating for years.

‘Lost all hope from present NRC exercise’, says BJP’s Himanta Biswa Sarma

The number of errors has also turned some in the BJP in Assam against the process, with Himanta Biswa Sarma, a BJP minister in the state, saying it had left off “so many genuine Indians”. “We have lost hope in the present form of the NRC,” Sarma told reporters, saying that the party was already mulling a “fresh strategy on how we can drive out the illegal migrants”.

Exclusion figure also includes those who didn’t file ‘claims’ after the final draft’

The final number of people excluded from NRC may be subject to revision as it also includes those who didn’t file “claims” after the final draft. This number stands to be around 3.8 lakh. If any of these people, now decide to challange their exclusion in a court of law, the total number of people may change. 

“Any person who is not satisfied with the outcome of the claims and objections can file an appeal before the Foreigners Tribunals,” says state coordinator Prateek Hajela in his press statement.

Meanwhile… Delhi BJP president wants a NRC in national capital as well

Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari has called for the NRC exercise to be conducted in Delhi as well. 

BJP Delhi Chief Manoj Tiwari: National Register of Citizens (NRC) is needed in Delhi as situation is becoming dangerous. Illegal immigrants who have settled here are the most dangerous, we will implement NRC here as well. pic.twitter.com/3T2kEogFP5

— ANI (@ANI) August 31, 2019

Original petitioner for updation of citizens’ log furious over meagre numbers excluded, says whole exercise was wasted

Furious after seeing only 19,06,657 people out of the NRC, Abhijeet Sharma of Assam Public Works — on the basis of whose petition, the Supreme Court ordered the NRC to be updated — said, “Where is the figure of 80 lakh foreigners? We had always warned that NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela should not be trusted. There were some people who did not allow either Centre or the state governments to be part of the process. Despite repeated appeals of reverification, it was not done. Wipro which was responsible for the software part has done a shoddy job. If you ask a person whose origin is already of suspicion, living in those places where a lot of illegal migrants are living like in the char areas, he or she will obviously include as many names as possible. This is a waste of Rs 1600 crore. We gave the prime 10 years of our lives for nothing,” Sharma said. 

“NRC has deceived the people of Assam,” Sharma said.

What are the legal recourse available to those left out of NRC?

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has assured that those whose names have been excluded from the NRC will get an oppurtunity to file their appeal and be heard in the Foreigners’ Tribunal (FT) as per the direction of the Union Home Ministry.

“The fact that the extension of filing an appeal from 60 days to 120 days to the FT, will help all excluded persons to enjoy a level playing field”, he said. “Nobody will be subjected to any unnecessary harassment,” the CM said. 

The home ministry had planned to set up a total of 1,000 foreigners tribunal in phases; as of now, 100 foreigners tribunals are functioning. People who may be excluded from the final NRC can approach any one of these tribunals for inclusion of their names. Sonowal assured people that the state government will provide legal aid to poor people in their fight against exclusion from the NRC so that they can pursue their cases in foreigners tribunals and in higher courts.

Congress meeting over NRC shortly

Congress meeting to be held shortly at 10 Janpath on  Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC) final list issue, ANI reported.

Watch: People throng at NRC Kendras to check NRC final list 

People throng to one of the #NRC Seva Kendras in #Assam to check their names.

Total 3,11,21,004 persons are included in NRC list, 19,06,657 persons not included.#OurNRCFairNRC@sarbanandsonwal@HMOIndia pic.twitter.com/LeDV1o0THC

— All India Radio News (@airnewsalerts) August 31, 2019

Situation peaceful but Assam Police asks residents to remain wary of hate mongers, fake news

“The situation has been peaceful so far. We have taken firm security measures,” Nagaon Deputy Commissioner Jadav Saikia told News18 Assam NE. Section 144 has been imposed in 14 of 33 districts. 

Meanwhile, Assam DGP asked the people to report to police about possible misinformation on NRC being sought to be spread in the social media. Students have been asked to be alert about hate messages that may be spread and bring them to the notice of the police.

AAMSU raises fears that genuine Indians may bear brunt of clerical errors, inadequacies in process

The All Assam Minorities Students’ Union fears that names of genuine Indians have been left out from the final NRC. “But we are still hopeful that those names will be included,” An AAMSU leader said. 

The All Assam Minority Students Union was formed in 1980 to push back against the indenes’ Assam movement, which it said was targeting Muslims of East Bengal origin, Bengali Hindus and Nepalis based on false propaganda.

What is the first step if your name is excluded from NRC?

Firstly, it is important to understand that nobody can be labelled an illegal migrant, or a non-citizen just because their name did not find mention in the National Register of Citizens. Only a foreigners tribunal, a quasi-judicial body especially set up to solve matters of dubious citizenship, has the right to give a verdict on someone’s citizenship. It is this body, a resident should approach to dispute the exculsion of their names from the government’s list. 

List can be accessed both online and offline

Hard copies of the Supplementary List of Inclusions will be available for public view at NRC Seva Kendras (NSK), offices of the Deputy Commissioner and offices of the Circle Officer during office hours. Online,status of both inclusion and exclusion can be viewed online in the NRC website. People can check their names online using Application Receipt Number (ARN). 

People are advised not to panic if they cannot immediately access the list or can not find their names in the list. It could just be a technical bug due to heavy traffic on government servers. Otherwise, those excluded too have been assured of all possible legal recourse.

After being excluded from the final draft, a total of 36,26,630 people were called for reverification 

In the final draft of NRC, published on 30 July 2018, total 2,89,83,677 numbers of persons were found eligible for inclusion. Thereafter, claims were received from 36,26,630 numbers of persons against their exclusion. A massive verification was carried out for all these people under Clause 4(3) of the Schedule of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.

More than 3 crore included in final list of NRC

The final list of citizens will include a total of 3,11, 2100 names. These people will be deemed legal and rightful citizens of India, resolving years of ethnic dispute and anxiety of illegal immigrant population making into electoral rolls of India.

In conclusive list of citizens, over 19 lakh state residents excluded

According to the Assam government, 19,06,657 people have been left out of the final list of NRC. All legal options, including the right to appeal in highest courts of India, is open to these people. The government has vowed to provide them with legal assistance to fight their case

Direct link to check NRC final list

Here is the direct link to check the final NRC list:  https://www.thefinalnrc.com/FinalNRC/Draft.htm. You can directly check your status by entering the ARN number and a captcha text, built in for sites security. 

Meanwhile… Guwahati faces incessant rainfall as millions await verdict on citizenship

Meanwhile, as Assam waits for more clarity on the final verdict, which has already been put out on government’s websites, several parts of Guwahati face incessant rainfall and are waterlogged, while rains lash Barpeta.

Govt publishes last list of National Register of Citizen

The final lift of NRC was released by the government on 31 August at all NRC Seva Kendra (NSK) across the state and on www.nrcassam.nic.in or www.assam.mygov.in online. In the final draft, published in July last year, of the 3.29 crore registered names, as many as 40,07,707 applicants found their names excluded.

Govt extends time frame to appeal to foreigners tribunal against exclusion from NRC

The Central Government has already extended the time period for appeal in an Foreigners Tribunal from 60 days to 120 days. 

Last month, the Supreme Court had rejected the central and Assam governments’ plea for sample re-verification to find out wrongful inclusions or exclusion of names in the NRC. The Supreme Court-monitored NRC exercise, aimed at identifying illegal immigrants, mostly from Bangladesh, was carried out only in Assam, which faced influx of people from the neighbouring country since the early 20th century.

AASU urges govt to sign extradition treaty with Bangladesh

“The NRC process has been done under the supervision of the Supreme Court. The approach of the government in this matter has been disappointing. We urge the Centre to sign extradition treaty with the neighbouring countries so that those who do find their names in the document can be sent back to their parent countries. Despite repeated reminders from the apex court it has not been done so far. We have complete faith in the Supreme Court. If some indigenous and tribal people are left out by mistake then 30 regional organisations including eight Sahitya Sabha organisations will assist them,” president of All Assam Students’ Union Dipankar Kumar Nath told News18 Assam NE

60-yr-old woman commits suicide over exclusion from NRC, says report

The anxiety over NRC is now pushing people over the brink: 33 people have killed themselves so far, six in July itself. Today, news broke that a 60-year-old woman Shayera Begum from No. 1 Dolabari village near Tezpur allegedly committed suicide by jumping into well due to rumours on NRC. Her name was not on the list so far, News18 Assam NE reported. More details on this are yet to follow

Govt promises legal aid to people from economically weaker section of society who are excluded from NRC

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda ​Sonowal on Friday said that the state government will take up the cause of those excluded from the final NRC to be published Saturday and ensure that nobody is subjected to any “unnecessary harassment”. As long as the appellant’s plea remains sub-judice with the Foreigner’s Tribunal, he or she cannot be treated as a foreigner, the chief minister said. 

Sonowal assured people that the state government will provide legal aid to poor people in their fight against exclusion from the NRC so that they can pursue their cases in foreigners tribunals and in higher courts.

Today’s NRC publication will be a “Supplementary Inclusions List”

The final list that will be out today will only be a “Supplementary Inclusions List” which will provide the names of those included in the NRC after they had filed “claims” against their exclusion in the final draft published 30 July last year or excluded in the additional draft exclusions list published on 26 June, 2019, or those who were in the final draft but had “objections” filed against their names or those who were included in the final draft but called for hearing from 5 July, 2019, onwards.

Don’t believe in rumours, govt will help those who are excluded from NRC, says Assam Police

The Goverment has ensured adequate safeguards for people whose name may not appear in the Final NRC.

Don't believe rumours, as some elements are trying to create confusion in society.

Safety of citizens is our top priority.#OurNRCFairNRC pic.twitter.com/81ilCotSCT

— Assam Police (@assampolice) August 29, 2019