NEW DELHI: The opposition on Saturday expressed concern over the exclusion of over 19 lakh people from the NRC in Assam and said steps should be taken to ensure that no Indian citizen is left out.
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi held discussions with top functionaries on issues related to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and leaders said the party stands by those excluded and will provide them legal aid.
While AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi attacked the Centre saying the ‘myth’ of 40 lakh illegal migrants in the state has been busted with the updated list excluding 19 lakh people, TMC chief Mamata Banerjee alleged that “it is a plot to drive out Bengalis from Assam”.
Leader of the Congress in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said his party will stand by all those genuine citizens who have been left out of the NRC and will continue to fight for them and provide legal aid, He was speaking after Gandhi held discussions with senior Congress leaders, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, Ahmed Patel, A K Antony, Ghulam Nabi Azad, Mukul Sangma and Gaurav Gogoi.
“The NRC has come out after an extensive exercise monitored by the Supreme Court. We are demanding that genuine citizens should not be left out. We are putting pressure for including them in the NRC,” Chowdhury told PTI.
The CPI(M) said the exclusion of over 19 lakh people from the NRC in Assam has raised fears of legitimate citizens being left out of the document. In a statement, its politburo said it was important now to ensure that all genuine citizens of the country, who had failed to make it to the list, were included. The government should spell out what would be the status and rights of those who were excluded, the CPI(M) said.
“Till their appeals are heard and the process is completed, the status quo should be maintained with regard to their existing rights and facilities.’’
Congress leader Gaurav Gogoi said district-wise details of people have been sought from party leaders in Assam.
“Every section of Assam is unhappy with the status of the NRC. Even BJP ministers are complaining,” he said.
Targeting the Centre, Owaisi said, “First of all, it is for the Home Minister to clarify. Because Mr Amit Shah had made a speech in which he said there are 40 lakh ‘ghuspeti’ (intruder, infiltrator) in Assam. I want to know from him…does he still stand by his comment that there are 40 lakh ghuspeti?” he said. (PTI)
