Discrepancy in NRC figures: Prabajan Virodhi Mancha (PVM)

Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, Aug 6: Prabajan Virodhi Mancha (PVM) convener Upamanyu Hazarika has sniffed a massive discrepancy between the official estimate of infiltrators staying illegally in Assam and the number of NRC applicants left out in its complete draft published on July 30 this year. The government, Hazarika feels, owes the people of Assam an explanation on this goof up.

Addressing the media in Guwahati on Monday, Hazarika said: “The figures are thrown up (left out) by the NRC are far short of the official estimates. Even the present 40 lakh applicants left out of the draft NRC are likely to be reduced after claims and objections. On July 14, 2004, Union Minister for State for Home Sriprakash Jaiswal made a statement in Parliament that there were 50 lakh infiltrators as on December 31, 2001. Kiren Rijjiju in Parliament on November 16, 2016, gave a figure of 80 lakh infiltrators. The number of NRC left out has therefore fallen short drastically of the estimated number.”

Hazarika said: “In this situation, there should have been greater vigilance and care in the NRC exercise in the border districts.”