Debabrata Saikia sceptical about the affidavit in NRC

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Leader of Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly Debabrata Saikia has said that State NRC Coordinator Hitesh Dev Sarma's assertion on NRC "gives an impression that he's (Sarma) preparing a blueprint to re-do the NRC update in line with BJP's new agenda, which will result in more harassment for the people of Assam".

Saikia pointed out that Sarma has taken recourse to technicality and claimed that "the NRC published on 31st August, 2019 was not the final NRC, but merely a 'supplementary list'."

"He has mentioned in the affidavit that the NRC will be considered as final only when the document is published by the Registrar General of India (RGI). However, he has stated almost in the same breath that he had pointed out all the anomalies in the NRC vide a letter to the RGI on 20th February this year and sought necessary directions for corrective measures. Sarma has lamented that instead of issuing the desired directions, the RGI issued instructions for issue of rejection slips and winding up of the operation of updation of NRC," Saikia underlined.

According to Saikia, it is obvious from the reported interaction that unlike Sarma, the RGI is not convinced about serious anomalies in the NRC.

"Sarma has mentioned that various District Registrar of Citizen Registration (DRCRs) have recommended 10,199 names for either exclusion from or inclusion in the NRC. Out of these, 4975 names have been recommended for deletion. These include 1,032 persons who are declared foreigners (DFs), doubtful voters (DVs), persons with cases pending in Foreigners Tribunals (PFT) and descendants of PFT (PFTD). However, in case of the remaining 3,763 persons recommended for exclusion, the cause mentioned in the affidavit is 'other reasons', which smacks of obfuscation and creates suspicion," Saikia said.

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