India issues National Register of Citizens starting with Northeast |
Uncertainty plagued a large section of the people of Assam as the National Register of Citizens or the NRC released on Saturday left out about 1.9 million people in the state, potentially rendering them “stateless." The fate of this large section of the population hangs in the balance, as the foreigners` tribunals are unlikely to take a decision on their status before four months. Assam government officials have said that while those who have been excluded will not lose basic fundamental or voting rights for now, it will be several months before there is any clarity on the matter. However, officials in Assam who have been part of the decision-making process in the aftermath of the release of the NRC said that no one would be deported or labelled a foreigner or rendered stateless, until a judgement is issued. The central government and the Assam government are scrambling to tackle the impact of the release of the NRC on the 1.9 million who have been left out. Those excluded, will now need to prove that they or their ancestors were Indian citizens on or before 24 March 1971, according to the Assam Accord of 1985, which was drafted between the Centre, the Assam government and the All Assam Students` Union.
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