NRC must be B'deshi-free: AASU

Staff Reporter

Guwahati, April 20: The All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), along with 28 other indigenous organizations of the State, met State NRC Coordinator Prateek Hajela on Thursday night and told him that the updated NRC must be free from the names of any illegal Bangladeshis. They expressed serious concern that some illegal Bangladeshis have been trying to register their names in the updated NRC.

“The updated NRC must free from illegal Bangladeshis. A correct NRC will be a great safeguard for indigenous people. It has been found that some Bangladeshi nationals are forging documents or using others’ legacy to enter the NRC. Therefore, document verification must be done with a lot of care. The government officials must check the documents of applicants very carefully. On them a lot depends. In fact, how correct the updated NRC will be, will depend largely on the officials on duty,” they told Hajela.

On his part, Hajela assured the delegation that the updated NRC would be free from the names of any illegal immigrants. “The process of document verification is on. Only those who have given documents prior to March 25, 1971 will find entry into the updated NRC. The NRC will be free from the names of any illegal immigrants. We are very cautious. We appeal to all for their cooperation,” he said.

The delegation consisted of AASU chief advisor Samujjal Bhattacharyya, AASU president Dipanka Kumar Nath, All Bodo Students’ Union (ABSU) president Pramod Bodo and All Assam Tribal Sangha (AATS) general secretary Aditya Khaklari, among others.