Assam NRC Issue – UPSC GS3

The National Register of Citizens (NRC) is a document manufactured by the Government which contains the names of Indian citizens. The updation of the NRC is a periodical process. It requires to be updated at regular intervals so as to ensure proper documentation of the citizens as well as to check possible illegal migration.

In Assam, the updation of NRC could not be carried out since 1951 due to several political compulsions.

The Assam Movement in 1980’s, the language Movement and such other identity movements fought on ethnic lines have heavily impinged on the system of governance in the state thereby leading to a stalemate on the NRC updation issue. After five decades of the stalemate, the present government has initiated steps to update the NRC under the direct supervision of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.

The history of Muslims in Assam dates back to the 8th century when, according to some scholars, Turks and Arab traders and sailors came to the Brahmaputra Valley and settled in the Darrang region.

After the British annexed Assam as part of the Bengal Presidency in 1826, migrant labourers were brought in from central India to work in tea plantations and this necessitated the production of more food, which the local population could not manage on its own.

Moreover, a spurt in demand in the jute market necessitated an increase in jute cultivation in Bengal, which again was not possible. Both these reasons were behind the migration of Muslim farmers of East Bengal to Assam, first in small numbers. But by the turn of the 20th century, there was a huge influx of migrants to the chars, or river islands, in lower Assam from Bogra, Rangpur, Pabna and Mymensingh districts of Bengal.

No, there was an NRC across the country in 1951, but that was based on the Census of that year. and this is the first time it is being revised and only In Assam and it is not based on the census

Those whose names were in the 1951 NRC or in any or the electoral rolls up to the midnight of March 24.1971 and their descendants

To apply for inclusion in the NRC, one’s name or one’s ancestor’s name must be in the 1951 NRC or in any voter list up to the midnight of March 24, 1971, the cut-off date agreed upon in the Assam Accord.

If the applicant’s name is not on any of these lists, he can produce any of the 12 other documents dated up to March 24, 1971, like land or tenancy record, citizenship certificate or permanent residential certificate or passport or court records or refugee registration certificate. March 25, 1971 is when the Bangladesh Liberation War began.

If the applicant’s ancestor’s name is on any of these lists, the applicant will have to prove his relationship to his ancestor by producing his board or university certificate, ration card or any other legally acceptable

An Indian citizen from another state who moved to Assam after the specified date is not eligible for inclusion in the NRC though he can continue to vote.

Section 6A of the Citizenship Act, 1955 those who came from Bangladesh between 1966 and 1971 will have to register themselves with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, and will be included in the NRC, but will not have voting rights for 10 years from the date of registration.

But According to Article 6 of the Constitution, the cutoff for determining citizenship in India is July 19, 1948.

It is the struggle of those who wanted to save their culture from being extinct and be reduced to an ethnic minority section in their homeland

The Indigenous people of Assam fear that the unabated influx or growing stream of immigrants and infiltrators from across the border would one day reduce them into a small minority

Immigration problem has been regarded as a “Security Threat” as it creates problem not only for personal security and human rights issues but also creates internal and international security problem.

The NRC is to be updated to comply with the demands in the Assam Accord. signed in 1985 by Rajiv Gandhi and leaders or the Assam Movement

While the demand has been that such people be sent back to the countries they came from, India needs to sign repatriation treaties with Bangladesh and Nepal for the same

Many Question the validity or the 1951 NRC since it was incomplete

People complain that the government has not made available all electoral rolls up to 1971 in all districts. The government says it has provided whatever is available

Doubtful voters will have to have their names cleared by the Foreigners Tribunal before their inclusion in the NRC

One of the oft-repeated complaints is the discrepancy In names In different government documents, caused by misspelling of names and inclusion or nicknames instead or actual names

There has been concern from Indigenous tribes who may not have any pre-1971 documents to prove their Identity. While all original inhabitants or Assam are to be included in Assam, the modalities tor the same have not been finalized

Many of the Muslims who had fled Assam could only return later, thereby not being included in the 1951 Census and NRC.

There are writ petition pending before Supreme Court to declare cut-off year as 1951 instead of 1971.

There are question about validity of 1951 NRC data because it was incomplete.

Few supports NRC be updated on the basis of 2014 electoral roll.

Few feel this revision exercise should be carried out in entire country instead of being selective to Assam.

The treatment to those who will be left out of NRC revision will become a political issue.

As per Assam Accord, the foreigners who came post 1971 were to be evicted. However, it is much easier said than done. From 1985 to 2012, the government has been able to send back only around 2500 out of over 55000 identified illegal migrants.

India needs repatriation treaty with Nepal and Bangladesh to push back those who will be excluded from NRC.

There are claims for religion based differentiation of illegal migrants which may further complicate the settlement process. Some political parties claim that the Hindus who came from Bangladesh are not foreigners and should be given citizenship.

Since Bangladesh is not ready to take them back, lakhs of such Indian citizens, who have had their names on the Indian electoral rolls for the past four decades, and who are in possession of Electoral Photo Identity Card, would be rendered stateless.

The NRC is being updated in Assam to detect Bangladeshi nationals, who may have illegally entered the State after the midnight of March 24, 1971, the cut-off date

This date was originally agreed to in the 1985 Assam Accord, signed between the then Rajiv Gandhi government and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU)

In 2005, another agreement was signed between the Centre, the then Tarun Gogoi government in Assam and the AASU where it was decided to update the NRC that was first published after the Census data of 1951 in post-Partition India

The publication of the first draft of the NRC by December 31, 2017, was ordered by the Supreme Court

The top court has been hearing this case since July 2009 when Assam Public Works moved court to intervene in detecting and deporting Bangladeshis

Second and final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was published with 2.9 crore names out of the total 3.29 crore applicants in Assam.

The names of 40.07 lakh applicants did not find a place in the historic document, touted to be a proof of Assamese identity.

The first draft of the NRC was published during the intervening night of December 31 and January 1 this year, containing 1.9 crore names.

The process for making claims and objections will begin on August 30 and continue till September 28. Adequate and ample scope will be given to people for making objections.