In Assam, the worst fears of Bengali speaking Hindus and Muslims came true on Monday, July 30, as the dreaded second and final upgraded list of Indian citizens in Assam was released.
Names of over 4 million applicants, mostly from the three Barak Valley Bengali-majority districts, were omitted.
As soon as the news from Assam spread, there was sharp political fallout in India as a whole. In the Lok Sabha, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Saugata Ray and others protested strongly against the centre. They were supported by the Indian National Congress (INC) Mallikarjun Kharge, many Muslim MPs and other regional parties. Proceedings were stalled.
Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said the survey and enlistment of citizens had nothing to do with the ruling party. The Central and state governments, both run by the BJP, were carrying out instructions from the Apex court in the land. Apprehensions expressed by most member sere ‘baseless’ he said, stressing that there would be fresh opportunities for those unlisted to prove their claims.
In the meantime Singh made it clear; there would no harassment of people in Assam. There would be no arrests or detention camps. This was later reaffirmed by Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal, a former leader of the All Assam Students” Union, the most influential body that had carried out the often violent anti-foreigners’ agitation in the eighties targeting Bengali Muslims and Hindus. Ironically it was Sonowal, now with the BJP, first who had earlier talked about special detention centres to be set up for illegal aliens.
However, such official assurances did little to assuage minority sentiments. There was tension in at least seven Assam districts. The centre sent in 15 additional companies of para military forces to ensure that there was no trouble. In some parts of the state where non-Assamiyas lived, shops remained close as people went into huddles, talking in low voices. The police patrolled some areas.
The strongest reaction as expected came from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who held the BJP directly responsible for the situation. She wondered how could so many people be disenfranchised at a stroke and gave instances of how the Assam authorities had included , in places only one member in a family of four or five as a citizen, but not others ! She alleged that only Bengalis had been specially targeted. What if Bangladesh did not accept people who would be pushed by back by Indian authorities, she asked.
A Trinamool Congress delegation led by State Minister Firhad Hakim would visit Assam on Aug 1, to asure the minorities that the party would stand by them. Banerjee also did not believe that by appealing to the Assam authorities again, those not listed would get much relief. West Bengal police increased border checks and patrolling to ensure that there was no influx from Assam into Alipurduar and other areas.
Out of a total of 32.9 million people living in the state, 28.9 million were recognized as genuine Indian citizens. In addition to over 4 million people left out, there were doubts about the status of a further 200,000 people, it was learnt. The latest enrolment of citizens follows a directive from the Supreme Court, which ordered the preparation of a National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. The fresh counting exercise began in 2013.
Addressing a news conference, in Assam, Mr Sailesh, National head of the fresh census, said that there was no reason for the unlisted people to live in fear . The list was ‘not final’ and genuine citizens could always apply afresh with documents to plead their case before proper authorities during the next few weeks, he said. Prateek Hajela, who supervised the listing process in Assam, was also present.
Hajela said it was a matter of great satisfaction for him as a very difficult and often tension-ridden exercise had been completed. Now it was time to take the next steps, to ‘complete the process’ as he put it.
The AASU and Assamiya parties and organizations celebrated the release of the list, distributing sweets. The Assamiya character of Assam should be made secure, Assamiya leaders said, congratulating the central and state governments.
But clearly the last word on the matter had not been heard, said observers. Bengal state BJP leaders were sidelined as all other parties in the state Assembly condemned the NRC upgrading.