Massive rally organized by Citizens Rights Protection Coordination Committee (CRPCC) in Silchar

Our Correspondent

Silchar: A ‘Gana Michil’ (mass rally), organized by the Citizens Rights Protection Coordination Committee (CRPCC), Assam, a frontline organization initiated by Citizens Rights Preservation Committee, Assam, and Joutho Andolan Parichalon Committee, was organized on Tuesday in which more than 2000 people actively participated. This coordination committee has been initiated to take necessary steps for the protection of the rights of the citizens in the State of Assam. The main objective of organizing the mass rally was to protest against the harassment meted out to the Bengali community of Assam in the name of NRC.

As a part of their activity, members of the committee decided to organize a mass gathering cum massive rally regarding their demand to extend the deadline for submission of claims and objections for National Register of Citizens (NRC) by at least two months. CRPCC, Silchar district Congress Committee, Nandonik, All India DSO among others raised the demand in view of the Panchayat elections scheduled to be held in the state of Assam in two phases, December 5 and December 9. The counting is slated for December 12.

It is to be noted that since the State government offices, officials, employees, and staff are deeply engrossed in performing their duties related to Panchayat elections, people are facing difficulties in obtaining documents which are necessary for the filing of NRC claims and objections. Further, CRPCC has strongly objected to NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela’s order which states that pre-1971 ration card will be accepted as a proof of citizenship only if it is supported by any one of the remaining 14 documents from the list which has been approved by the Supreme Court of India.

In addition to this, the committee has objected to Prateek Hajela’s directive that the documents will be accepted only if they have been issued on or before August 31, 2015. CRPCC is of the opinion that it is a ploy to deprive the citizenship of 40 lakh people who were excluded in the draft NRC list. The rally started off from India Club ground and moved through the streets and important spots of the town. They moved across the town passed through Circuit House road, Premtala, Central road, Rangirkhari, National Highway point etc.

The rally was led by Prof. Dr. Tapodhir Bhattacharjee, former Vice-Chancellor of Assam University, Dr. Saurindra Kumar Bhattacharjee, president of Barak Upatyaka Banga Sahitto O Sanskriti Sammelan, Sadhan Purkayastha, Kishore Bhattacharjee, Sarifujjaman Laskar, Partha Ranjan Chakraborty, Simanta Bhattacharjee, Madhab Saha, Bhobotosh Roy, Tamojit Saha, Prashanta Bhattacharjee among others. Tamal Kanti Banik, a former municipal chairperson, also participated in this rally along with the members of Nandanik. Rahul Das Gupta joined the rally as a citizen from south Silchar. A huge contingent from District Congress Committee also took part in this rally.

Various other organizations, such as Matribhasha Surakhha Samiti, Forum for Social Harmony, SUCI etc also joined in large numbers. Many others were also present in groups but without any banner. A large number of teachers and students also took part in this mass rally spontaneously. Many cultural activists too matched their steps. A team from Brahmaputra Valley led by Chitta Paul was also present in this protest rally. Later, they submitted a memorandum addressed to the Registrar General of India through the Deputy Commissioner of Cachar. It has been stated in the memorandum that the anomalies and irregular procedures carried out during NRC update process cannot be corrected by arbitrarily re-verifying of names at this stage.

The existing gap of communication with claimant needs to be bridged by clearly communicating reasons for exclusion of someone legal assistance should be provided to the claimants in NRC seva Kendra by setting up legal cells to offer assistance free of cost. This has been mentioned in particular in the memorandum. The memorandum has been signed by Dr. Tapodhir Bhattacharjee, chairman, CRPCC and Steering Committee.

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