Make 1951 NRC cut-off year: Assam group

Diphu (Assam), Aug 30, 2018:

The Assam Sanmilita Mahasanga (ASM) has demanded that the cut-off year of National Register of Citizen (NRC) in Assam be made 1951 and not 1971.

Several organisations such as Hill Tribal League (HTL), Karbi Students’ Association (KSA), Kuki National Assembly (KNA), Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO), Karbi Student & Youth Council (KSYC) backed the demand.

ASM’s working president Matiur Rahman said, “With the rise in influx from east Pakistan, now Bangladesh, into Assam post-independence and for detection of foreigners, the All Assam Students’ Union and All Assam Gana Sangram Parishad (AASGP) had launched the Assam movement. The outcome of the movement led to the signing of Assam Accord on August 15, 1985 among AASU, AAGSP, Central government and state government for detection and deportation of the foreigners from Assam.

He added: “The first NRC was prepared in 1951. All foreigners coming to Assam after January 1, 1951 to March 24, 1971 should be detected in accordance with the provision of Registration of Foreigners’ Act and Registration of Foreigners Rule, 1939”.

Rahman said that the ASM was fighting four cases in the constitutional bench of Supreme Court regarding the present NRC updation.

He said: “The first NRC was prepared in 1951 and we want to continue with that year. The present NRC updation in Assam taking 1971 as the cut off year is unconstitutional and illegal. It should be 1951. We are awaiting the final verdict of the Supreme Court. If we are not satisfied, we will approach the international court for protection of indigenous rights of Assam with support from international communities.”