NRC Objections: All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) Sniffs Foul Play
GUWAHATI: The All Assam Minority Students’ Union (AAMSU) has said that people registering fake objections against the inclusion of names in the NRC (National Register of Citizens) should be sent for five-year jail terms besides Rs 50,000 fines in accordance with the Section 17 of the Citizenship Act, 1955 that was approved by the Supreme Court of India in the SOP (Standard Operation Procedure) of the NRC. The students’ body said that instead of punishing people registering false objections against the inclusion of names in the NRC, the NRC authority is protecting them.
Talking to the media in Guwahati on Sunday, AAMSU adviser Azizur Rahman said: “According to Clause 5 of the SOP, an objector has to mention his name, address, telephone number and the reason for the objection.
Accordingly, the applicant against whom objection(s) has/have been filed should be made to know at least 15 days before the hearing, that too, specifying the reason for the objection. In the event of failure on the part of the NRC authority to issue notice to an applicant before 15 days of hearing, a fresh notice has to be served well ahead of the hearing. However, it is seen that such notices reach NRC applicants just three/four days before hearing, and the reasons for the objections are also not mentioned. The objectors have to remain present in hearing and tell the authorities as to why he/she registered objections. However, intentionally fake objectors remain absent from such hearing. This apart, there are allegations of hearing officials irritating applicants by asking some unnecessary questions. We demand that the hearing officials should give in writing to NRC applicants against whom objections registered stating that the objectors of their inclusion in NRC are absent. This apart, such objections should be disposed of ex parte. The hearing officers should also let the NRC applicants know the outcome their hearings.”
The student leader also demanded a clarification from the NRC authority on the exact number of objections registered. “Even as the NRC authority says that 2 lakh objections have been registered, every day thousands of people are going for NRC hearing. This makes us believe that around 20/25 lakhs objections have been filed,” he said, and added that they would stage a dharna at Jantar-Mantar in New Delhi on May 21 for not getting an error-free NRC. They are supposed to submit a memorandum each to the President of India, the Union Home Minister and the RGI.