Assam NRC: Upamanyu Hazarika Demands Re-Verification in Migrant-Dominated Districts

Guwahati, November 24, 2019:

Senior advocate of Assam, Upamanyu Hazarika, on Sunday alleged that the NRC is a "political tool" for BJP-AGP alliance leaders for the "benefit of including foreigners". Hazarika further stated that there is no need for a fresh NRC in Assam, and demanded the Government to conduct re-verification in migrant dominated areas, instead.

A few days ago, Himanta Biswa Sarma professed allegiance to 1951 as the cut off year in statements to the press when his Government on affidavit before the Supreme Court has supported 1971 as the cut off year on 1 May, 2017.

He also added that Ranjit Dass has showcased his ignorance, as yesterday at a press conference, he said that NRC will be re-done in Assam.

ALSO READ: Manipur Must not be Disturbed due to Outcome of Naga Talks: Ibobi Singh to PM Modi

Condemning Dass, he said that he "conveniently overlooked the fact that it is during the tenure of the present BJP Government in the Centre and the State that NRC exercise has been carried out and there is no guarantee that a fresh exercise will not yield the same result."

Hazarika accused the current Government of overlooking the NRC, "particularly when the Citizenship Bill is in the process of being introduced afresh in Parliament."

"The need is not for a fresh NRC exercise but for a re-verification in migrant dominated and border districts where large number of foreigners were included through fraud and subversion during the field verification process", Hazarika said.

Hazarika said that at a time when leaders from the entire Northeast, Assam leaders "stand out as a shameful exception showing no spine in defending and protecting their own people."

Even after 5 years of the NRC process when it is clear to any lay person where the fault lies and that re-verification is the answer, those who hold the reigns of power chose to be ignorant.

Support Inside Northeast (InsideNE), an independent media platform that focuses on Citizen-centric stories from Northeast India that are surprising, inspiring, cinematic and emotionally relevant.