Debabrata Saikia Slams Bharatiya Janata Party For NRC Fiasco

STAFF REPORTER

GUWAHATI: Leader of Opposition in the Assam Legislative Assembly, Debabrata Saikia has expressed concern about the widespread complaints which have arisen about a concerted campaign to harass religious and linguistic minorities during the NRC-related claims and objections process, started recently.

Saikia said, “Such a development does not come as a surprise to me. As far back as June, 2018 I had led a delegation to New Delhi in the capacity of leader of the Assam Congress Legislature Party and separately submitted memoranda to the President of India, the Union Home Minister and the Registrar General of India & Census Commissioner wherein we highlighted the harassment faced by religious and linguistic minorities due to the NRC process and the need for effective measures to arrest the trend. Unfortunately, the BJP government which has scant regard for the Constitution of India and the Fundamental Rights of citizens turned a deaf ear to our caution and suggestions alike. As a result, numerous innocent citizens are now facing emotional and financial distress.”

“The noteworthy aspect is that these motivated complainants remain absent during NRC hearings pertaining to claims and objections. Even the NRC authorities are playing a dubious role when it comes to harassment of minority groups. Many people whose citizenship has been called into question have been summoned to far-flung NRC Seva Kendras despite the existence of Seva Kendras near their areas of residence.

The Supreme Court has directed that NRC-related hearing that the authorities should exercise their discretion in accordance with the laws of the land while dealing with NRC-related cases wherein the objector remains absent from the hearing process. It is a legal axiom that ‘justice delayed is justice denied’. Therefore, I demand that NRC-related complaints wherein the objector avoids the hearing process should be decided ex-parte and dismissed so as to prevent protracted harassment of the defendant. Moreover, the NRC authorities should take steps to ensure that those under the scanner are summoned to the nearest Seva Kendra, and not to far-flung places”, said Saikia.

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