Congress alleges false NRC objections

Guwahati: Amidst the growing allegation of fake objections filed by “fictitious” persons against a large of number people whose name has already been included in the National Register of Citizens, the Supreme Court on Wednesday asserted that it will not extend the July 31 deadline for finalisation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi and Justice R.F. Nariman also gave a “free hand” to Prateek Hajela, Assam NRC coordinator dealing with claims and objections of persons against wrong exclusion or inclusion of citizens in the NRC.

The direction came after Mr Hajela informed the bench that many persons, who had filed objection against the inclusion of certain individuals in the draft NRC, are not coming forward before panels which are dealing with such complaints.

The draft NRC was published on July 30, 2018 in which the names of 2.89 crore of the 3.29 crore people were included. The names of 40,70,707 people did not figure in the list. Of these, 37,59,630 names have been rejected and the remaining 2,48,077 are on hold. Meanwhile a major controversy has broken with powerful All Assam Minority Students Union (AAMSU) and Congress leaders separately alleged that “fictitious” persons with ulterior motive were raising complaints and objections, based on which the authorities were issuing notices to “genuine” citizens.

The complainants do not appear before the authorities during the time of hearing of their pleas, it alleged.

“It is not even clear whether the complainants have an application receipt number or detailed address,” it stated.

In the memorandum, a copy of which was sent to NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela, the Congress party has also sought “immediate steps against the illegal and arbitrary process adopted by some Local Register of Citizens Registers of Kokrajhar district”.

The party demanded appropriate action against unscrupulous complainants.

Several organisations have come out in protest against the alleged harassment being meted out to the minorities, as part of the claims and objection verification process. The All Bodo Minority Students Union (ABMSU) has threatened to move court against the “fabricated objections”.