Of 40L excluded in NRC, 35.5L haven't applied for inclusion
Over 35.5 lakh people of the 40 lakh, who were excluded in the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC), haven't yet come forward for inclusion in the final list of the Supreme Court-monitored exercise. Besides, less than 200 applications have challenged the inclusion of suspected illegal immigrants in the NRC, a list of Assam's residents, two months after a window was opened for claims/objections.
4.5 lakh people have submitted applications for inclusion
So far, about 4.5 lakh people have submitted applications for inclusion of their names in the NRC and they have submitted relevant documents claiming that they are Indian citizens, a source privy to the development said. This means that 35.5 lakh people have not yet come forward to claim that they are Indians, probably they may not have proper documents, the source said.
Window for claims, objects comes to end on December 15
Following a directive of the SC, the process of filing claims and objections to the draft NRC began on September 25; it will come to an end on December 15. West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee claimed the NRC exercise was carried out with a "political motive" to divide people and warned that it would lead to "bloodbath" and a "civil war" in the country.
Indian citizens have become refugees in their own land: Banerjee
Banerjee alleged the NRC was an "attempt to evict the Bengalis from Assam". Meanwhile, the issue of low turnout in the claims and objections period was also discussed at Saturday's high-level meeting in New Delhi attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP president Amit Shah, Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, Director of Intelligence Bureau Rajiv Jain, among others.
SC finalizes set of SOP for disposal of claims, objections
The SC also finalized a set of standard operating procedure (SOP) for disposal of claims and objections in the updation of the NRC. The draft NRC was published on July 30 and included the names of 2.9 crore people out of the total applications of 3.29 crore. There has been a huge controversy over the exclusion of 40 lakh people from the draft NRC.
SC allowed five additional documents for NRC inclusion
Initially, the apex court had allowed the claimants to rely on any of the ten documents it approved. However, on November 1, the court allowed five additional documents to rely upon for inclusion of names in the NRC. The additional papers are - 1951 NRC, electoral roll up to March 24, 1971, citizenship certificate, refugee registration certificate, and ration card.
Forms for claims, objections available in 2,500 'Seva Kendras'
For the claims and objections process, forms are available in 2,500 'Seva Kendras' in Assam, where people can file their appeal in their respective areas. People can file corrections to their names that are in the draft and also raise objections against suspected foreigners.
Massive exercise to identify genuine Indian nationals in Assam
The update of NRC, the massive exercise to identify genuine Indian nationals in Assam, excluded over 40 lakh people from the draft list published on July 30, creating a huge political controversy. The exercise aimed at identifying illegal immigrants in the state that borders Bangladesh was carried out only in Assam, which faced an influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century.
NRC was first prepared in Assam in 1951
When NRC was first prepared in Assam in 1951, it had 80 lakh citizens. As per the 2011 census, Assam's total population is over 3.11 crore. The process of identification of illegal immigrants has been widely debated and become a contentious issue in Assam's politics.
