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‘Assam need not be part of nationwide NRC, will approach SC for revised list’: Himanta

The state government does not accept the National Register of Citizens (NRC), the final version of which was published on August 31 with over 19 lakh exclusions, Sarma told a press conference.

Updated on: Dec 24, 2019, 01:52:45 IST
Guwahati | By
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A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed that there is no talk yet of a pan-India National Register of Citizens (NRC), senior Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Monday that the state government wants Supreme Court to allow 20% re-verification of the Assam NRC in the districts bordering Bangladesh.

Assam State Minister of Finance, PWD, Health and Family Welfare Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses a press conference in Guwahati (PTI Photo)
Assam State Minister of Finance, PWD, Health and Family Welfare Himanta Biswa Sarma addresses a press conference in Guwahati (PTI Photo)

“We are unhappy with the present NRC. Issue of Assam NRC is always different and distinct from national NRC. If there is no national NRC, Assam NRC should be fool-proof,” he said here while addressing media persons. “Our main idea is to seek 20% re-verification in the border districts. If SC orders Assam government to do that, then we will do that and give report to court. If huge scale anomaly is detected in that re-verification, our next prayer would be to seek complete re-verification,” added Sarma.

He added that if national NRC had taken place, a fresh NRC would have happened in Assam too, but as the PM said there is intention of national NRC as of now, Assam government will pursue the matter in SC.

“There is no detention centre outside Assam. The one in Assam has been set up under directions of Gauhati High Court. So the PM is correct in saying that Centre has not started any detention centre,” said Sarma on a question about the PM saying that there is no detention centre in India.

Sarma also gave details about action taken against people who indulged in violence and damaged public and private property and also indulged in spreading provocative posts and rumours during the protests against Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) last week.

“Monitoring social media activities since December 9 found 206 posts which were inciting hatred and violence and had nothing to do with the democratic protests,” he said.

“So far 28 cases lodged for spreading rumours, 10 persons arrested (5 released on bail and 5 in judicial custody). Twenty one people who posted such posts have been counseled and 58 such posts deleted,” added Sarma.

  • Utpal Parashar
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Utpal Parashar

    A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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