As NRC Draft Publication Dates near, Government busy calming People's Fears

Guwahati: The Publication of the updated NRC ’s final draft will be concluding in Assam and the document slated to be released on 30^th July 2018. The authorities said that people whose names are not on the list will have plenty of scope to file their claims. On the night of 31^st December, 2017 and 1^st January, 2018, the 1^st draft was published. The 2^nd draft was slated to come out on June 30, but it got delayed by a month. The Assam government was asked by The Home Ministry, to not take any actions against those names, who do not figure in the list of the state’s citizens, on Wednesday. “No one should be worried about the release. People will get adequate time to register claims and objections and if someone is not satisfied, they can also approach the foreigner’s tribunal. I can say that there is no reason for worry,” Home Minister, Rajnath Singh said on Thursday.

However, as the process nears completion, there are anxieties about the fate of those who do not find a mention in the NRC. People who don’t find their names on the list can approach NRC Seva Kendra. From August 7, forms for claims and corrections will be available at NSKs and they can be filed from 30^th August to 28^th September 2018. “This is a draft, a first-cut. This is not the end of the NRC process. Some people are saying that those who will not be in the final NRC will be put in detention camps. This is absolutely wrong and a total misconception,” Hajela said. A petition was launched on the online campaign platform “Avaaz” on 12^th July. It had alleged that seven million Muslims in Assam would be excluded from the NRC and that they would be “left to rot in prison camps”. Hajela said that the content of the petition is incorrect and seeks to spread misinformation about a very serious and delicate issue. “There is no question of religion coming into play in deciding the citizenship of an applicant,” Hajela said. The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), controlled by MP and Badruddin Ajmal, said that they will provide logistics help to people to file their claims.