Opposition members in the lok Sabha on Thursday alleged a conspiracy to drive out Bengali-speaking population from Assam by not mentioning them in the National Register of Citizens (NRC), a charge rejected as "baseless" by Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
He said the finalisation of NRC was being done under the supervision of the Supreme Court.
Trinamool Congress member Saugata Roy raised the issue as soon as the Zero Hour began, pointing out that names of 1.3 crore people out of 3.29 crore population of Assam had not appeared in the first draft of NRC, which aims at identifying illegal immigrants.
"We fear this is a conspiracy to drive out Bengali- speaking people from Assam," Roy said, drawing vociferous support from his party MPs and some members of the Congress and the left parties.
Responding to the claim, the Home Minister said the NCR's work was going on under the supervision of the Supreme Court and there was no need for anyone to feel concerned.
"Those whose names have been left out can approach a tribunal. It is a baseless allegation that some people are being driven out," said Rajnath.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had on Wednesday said all those excluded in the first NRC draft should not worry as no one will be discriminated against on the basis of caste or community and given opportunities to prove their citizenship.
Sonowal also said a mechanism has to be devised "humanely" by the Centre on what to do with those found to be illegal immigrants after finalisation of the NRC, a list of the State's citizens.
The BJP had made identification of illegal immigrants in Assam from Bangladesh, an overwhelming number of whom are Muslims, its key poll plank during the Assembly polls in 2016. BP won the Assembly polls in Assam, forming its first Government in the North-Eastern State.
Some of the Opposition MPs and other leaders from Assam have also complained that there names have not figured in the draft NRC.
Some of the opposition MPs and other leaders from Assam have also complained that there names have not figured in the draft NRC.