GUWAHATI: On publication of the complete draft of the updated National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal expressed confidence that the people of would maintain age-old social harmony in the state ignoring the instigating comments and misinformation campaign made by certain vested quarters.
He express gratitude to the Supreme Court of India for monitoring the entire massive exercise of updating the NRC in Assam making the process totally transparent and unbiased. He also lauded the people of Assam for their cooperation to the process.
“All sections of the people of Assam maintained tremendous clam in the wake publication of the first draft of the NRC on December 31, 2017 and I am sure they will do the same after publication of the final draft NRC too,” Sonowal said while drawn to the ‘provocative’ remarks made by his West Bengal counterpart, Mamata Banerjee over the final draft NRC.
“I appeal to all sections of the people to maintain social harmony and peace. All should ignore rumour mongering. The NRC updating is a totally impartial and transparent process carried out under the monitoring of the Supreme Court,” Sonowal said even as the entire state has been put under strict surveillance of police and paramilitary forces since yesterday. The cyber dome of Assam police is working overtime to maintain order.
Meanwhile, the state coordinator of the NRC, Prateek Hajela informed that out of the over 40 lakh applicants whose name have failed to make it to the final draft NRC, about 2.48 lakh including “D’ (doubtful) voters and their descendants were such people whose applications had been put on a hold as cases related to their citizenship status were pending in Foreigners Tribunals in the state. He said applications of these people would be considered on the basis of the verdict given by Foreigners’ Tribunals on the status of their citizenship.
