Assam residents need not panic, will get opportunities to prove citizenship, says Rajnath

Ahead of the publication of NRC in Assam, Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said there was no need to panic and all bonafide Indians will be given adequate opportunities to prove their citizenship.

In a series of tweets, the home minister said the National Register of Citizens (NRC), a list of Assam’s citizens, is being updated in accordance with the ‘Assam Accord’ signed on August 15, 1985, and is being carried out as per the directions of the Supreme Court, which is continually monitoring the process.

“There is no reason for panic or fear. No person will be allowed to be harassed. We will ensure that every individual gets justice and is treated humanely,” he said.

Singh assured that the NRC exercise is being carried out in an impartial, transparent and meticulous manner and will continue to be so.

“All individuals will have sufficient opportunity for all remedies available under the law. At every stage of the process, adequate opportunity is given to all persons to be heard,” he said. The home minister said the entire process is being conducted according to law and a due procedure is being followed.

Singh said the central government wants to make it clear that the NRC, to be published on July 30, is only a draft and after draft publication, adequate opportunity for claims and objections will be available.

“All claims and objections will be duly examined. An adequate opportunity of being heard will be given before disposal of claims and objections. Only after that, final NRC will be published,” he said.

The home minister said the Citizenship Rules provide that any person who is not satisfied with the outcome of claims and objections can appeal in the Foreigner’s Tribunal.

Therefore, there is no question of anyone being put in a detention centre after the publication of NRC, he said.

Singh said the Assam government had been asked to ensure that law and order is maintained and no one is allowed to take the law into their hands.

DMK on Sunday expressed ‘shock’ over Puducherry Lt Governor Kiran Bedi’s conditional assent to the union territory’s Appropriation Bill, saying such acts destroyed the sanctity of the assembly.

In a statement here, DMK working president M K Stalin also demanded that the union territory be given separate statehood to ensure implementation of welfare schemes and avoid confusions arising out of power tussles between the union territory and the Centre.

Bedi yesterday approved the Appropriation Bill that would allow the government to withdraw funds for its expenditure,but but with a rider that the three BJP leaders nominated to the House be allowed to function as MLAS.

Last week, the assembly was adjourned sine-die without passing the bill for want of approval and Chief Minister V Nayaranasamy had accused Bedi of deliberately withholding her nod for the financial legislation. “The LG’S move has shocked me and such act destroys the sanctity of the assembly,” Stalin said.

Accusing Bedi and the Central government of ‘sitting’ on the budget for their own benefits, he said such an attitude ‘disrespected’ principles of democracy.

“To protect welfare schemes from confusions arising out of power tussles, Puducherry should be given statehood,” Stalin, whose party is an ally of Congress, said.

The ruling Congress in the union territory has been making the statehood demand with Chief Minister Narayanasamy citing ‘delay’ in getting approvals from Bedi for the government’s welfare schemes to push for the status.

Amid the protracted standoff with the Chief Minister, Bedi approved the passage of Appropriation Bill last night.

In a communication to the assembly, Bedi asked the House to pass the bill only after ensuring compliance of the Supreme Court order allowing the three nominated MLAS to attend the proceedings.

The Union Home Ministry had appointed the three functionaries of the BJP as nominated MLAS in June last year.