BJP eyeing options for review of NRC

NEW DELHI: Publication of the final National Register of Citizens list in Assam has left the ruling BJP disappointed and the party is determined to seek a thorough review to ensure its political plank retains its credibility and there is a reappraisal of illegal migrants.
With the number of people excluded from the list far less than what the party has estimated and even by the initial NRC list, BJP will press for a substantial recount. This could be through a legislation hinted at by home minister Amit Shah or by administrative measures and a fresh legal push in the Supreme Court.
Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma's statement claiming manipulation of the 'legacy' document shows that BJP may not be ready to give up on the issue yet and seek review of the NRC list. BJP is aware that a "flawed" list that apparently underplays the number of illegals and, worse, excludes genuine citizens, will damage its campaign against illegals from Bangladesh as well as its plans to protect Bengali speaking Hindu migrants.
As hinted by Sarma, BJP is now exploring all possibilities for review of the final register including making an appeal in the Supreme Court mainly in the districts bordering Bangladesh, where maximum concentration of illegal settlers was claimed.
"The names of many Indian citizens who migrated from Bangladesh as refugees prior to 1971 have not been included in the NRC because the authorities refused to accept their refugee certificates," Sarma said and added, "Many names got included because of manipulation of legacy data."
He had tweeted, "I reiterate that as requested by the central and state governments, at least 20% re-verification (bordering districts) and 10% re-verification (remaining districts) should be allowed by apex court for a correct and fair NRC."
The Assam leader has also hinted at exploring other options with the help of the Centre although he has not specified whether the possibilities will be explored through administrative or legislative process.
Publication of the final NRC, which has excluded 19 lakh people, for all practical purposes killed the 'illegal infiltrator' theme which BJP has invoked for more than two decades. Sources said the Centre and the state will ask the Supreme Court to allow 20% verification in border districts and 10% in non- border districts. Their plea is already before the apex court and the party is waiting for what CJI Ranjan Gogoi, who acted as principal push by asking for identification of citizens in response to a petition filed by Sarbananda Somowal, now Assam CM, does next. He had refused to extend the deadline but Sarma is obviously not seeing it as a rejection of their plea for a recount.


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