GUWAHATI, Oct 10 - Some political leaders and communal forces are trying to create confusion and disturbance in the society with inflammatory comments on the issue of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the Government should take strong action against such forces to ensure that the process, which is being monitored by the Supreme Court, is completed smoothly. This was the demand of the All Assam Students' Union (AASU).
Talking to The Assam Tribune, AASU chief adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya said that the people of the State want a correct NRC free from names of illegal migrants and that is why they whole heartedly cooperated with the process. He said that so far, the people are maintaining restraint in the face of provocations in the interest of preparation of a correct NRC under the monitoring of the Supreme Court. He said that if some parties or organizations have any grievance against the process of updating the NRC, they should approach either the Supreme Court or the Committee of Retired Judges appointed by the Court instead of trying to create disturbance in the society with provocative statements. He also demanded that the Central and State Governments should play a more pro-active role to ensure that the process is completed smoothly.
Bhattacharya said that AASU has always been cooperating with the process and from time to time they had talks with the members of the Committee of retired Judges of the High Court seeking clarifications on modalities. Whoever wants an NRC free from names of foreign nationals should cooperate with the process in the larger interest of the State, he added.
Strongly reacting to an organization in the Barak Valley portraying the State NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela as a demon, the AASU chief adviser said that such actions are not acceptable and the Government should take strong action against such persons. He pointed out that Hajela is only working as per the instruction of the Supreme Court and if anyone has any grievance he or she should approach the Court as merely targeting an officer would not help anyone.
Bhattacharya pointed out that immediately after assuming office, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had visited the State NRC office and assured full cooperation to the process. The Chief Minister has also been assuring time and again that action would be taken against anyone posing hurdles in the way of updating the NRC. But interestingly, several members of the BJP including legislators have been giving confusing and inflammatory statements on the issue. Bhattacharya said that if the Chief Minister is really serious about having a correct NRC, he should immediately stop his party colleagues from making confusing statements.
