Assam: Additional NRC exclusion list with 1 lakh names published

The list contains names included in the draft NRC, but were found to be ineligible

NRC rep (File) People wait to check their names at an NRC centre in Nagaon district, Assam | Reuters

An additional exclusion list comprising the names of 1,02,462 persons to the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) was published in Assam on Wednesday. With the release of the additional exclusion list, the NRC has so far excluded over 41 lakh people.

The persons whose names appear in the additional exclusion list are the ones who were included in the draft NRC published on July 30 last year, but subsequently found to be ineligible.

According to a statement issued by the state coordinator of the NRC, the list has been published as per provisions of Clause 5 of the Schedule of the Citizenship (Registration of Citizens and Issue of National Identity Cards) Rules, 2003.

The draft published on July 30, 2018 included the names of 2.9 crore people out of the total applications of 3.29 crore. Forty lakh people were left out in the draft.

According to officials, the additional exclusion list is available in designated NRC Seva Kendras (NSKs) and offices of deputy commissioners, sub-divisional officers and circle officers across Assam. The additional exclusion list can also be seen online at nrcassam.nic.in. Officials said people excluded from the new NRC list would receive letters sent to their residences that would list the reason for their exclusion.

The excluded persons have the opportunity to file claims in a hearing process. NRC officials said the date of hearings would be listed on the NRC website from June 29 onwards and the process would start from July 5.

The NRC in Assam is being updated under the monitoring of the Supreme Court and the final list is scheduled to be released on July 31. The release of the NRC was a contentious issue with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claiming last year the exercise had targeted ethnic Bengalis living in Assam.

The BJP, which runs the government in Assam and the Centre, has vowed to carry out similar NRC drives in West Bengal and across the country.

(With PTI inputs)