NRC final list today, lakhs may lose Indian citizenship

Desk Report: Tens of thousands of paramilitary personnel and police have been deployed in India's border state of Assam, the eve of the publication of a citizenship register, National Register of Citizens (NRC) that can leave millions of people stateless.

"The list would be available online by 10 am and those who do not have internet connections can go to Seva Kendras set up by the state government to check their status," a senior officer in the Home Ministry said.

“We are on track to publish the final list on Saturday and all efforts have been made to ensure people have no difficulties in checking their names,” a state official said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government has backed the citizenship test and said it could extend the exercise to other border states such as West Bengal.

Critics say the search for illegal immigrants in Assam has been largely directed at minority Muslims.

The tea-growing state of Assam, with a population of 33 million people, has a history of sectarian and ethnic violence. "All precautionary measures have been taken with security forces deployed in strength," said Assam police chief Kuladhar Saikia.

The government says there will be a four-month period for people not on the list to file appeals with a tribunal. Illegal immigrants will be sent to detention centres and eventually deported, the government says.

Source: Agencies

risingbd/Aug 31, 2019/Mukul