A week before the publication of the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC), Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Sunday said that the document to be published on 30th July is only a draft and that adequate opportunity for claims and objections will be available after the publication of the draft NRC on July 30.
“The Government wants to make it clear that the NRC to be published on July 30 is only a draft. After draft publication, adequate opportunity for claims and objections will be available. All claims and objections will be duly examined. Adequate opportunity of being heard will be given before disposal of claims and objections. Only thereafter, final NRC will be published,” Singh said after emerging out of a meeting with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal in New Delhi.
“NRC is being updated in Assam in accordance with the Assam Accord signed on 15 August, 1985. The entire process is being carried out as per directions of the Supreme Court which is constantly monitoring the process,” he said.
“I will like to assure everyone that the NRC exercise is being carried out in a totally impartial, transparent and meticulous manner and will continue to be so. At every stage of the process, adequate opportunity of being heard is given to all persons. The entire process is being conducted according to law and due procedure is being followed,” he said.
“We will ensure that every individual gets justice and is treated in a humane manner. All individuals will have sufficient opportunity for all remedies available under the law,” he said.
Singh said that 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. “Thus, there is no question of anyone being put in a detention centre after the publication of NRC,” he said adding that the State Government has been asked to ensure that law and order is maintained and no one is allowed to take law into their hands and all possible arrangements are made to ensure safety and security for all.
“There is no reason for panic or fear. No person will be allowed to be harassed. Central Govt. will provide all necessary help to the Government of Assam in this regard,” he added.
It may be mentioned here that over 1.5 lakh people in Assam are living in fear that their names will not figure in the draft NRC to be published on July 30 this year. The Central Government has already sanctioned the first standalone detention camp which will house declared foreigners after the publication of the NRC.