Bonafide citizens of India are being harassed in the name of NRC: All Assam Bengali Students’ Federation

Guwahati: The All Assam Bengali Students’ Federation on Tuesday alleged that both minority and linguistic communities of Assam are being harassed in the name of National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Addressing the media at Dispur Press club on Tuesday, All Assam Bengali Students’ Federation, President, Kamal Choudhury said that all the genuine Bengali citizens of the region are being harassed in the name of NRC for various reasons.

“Several complainers who had filed objections do not show up on the date of hearing, we have failed to locate their addresses as well, we had tried to inform the matter to the State NRC Coordinator Prateek Hajela through SMS and tried to fix an appointment with him in this regard, however, there was no positive response from his side,” said Kamal Choudhury.

As per the draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) of the Supreme Court, a complainer has to remain present on the date of the hearing, however, the complainer filing the objection had failed to attend the hearings. “I can challenge those people who have filed the objections doesn’t want an error-free NRC, else why did they failed to attend the hearings, this is harassing the minority community and linguistic communities of the state,” added Choudhury.

“Poor Bengali people both Hindus and Muslims are being particularly targeted and sent to detention camps. I appeal to the Chief Minister of Assam Sarbananda Sonowal for clarification on the matter,” Choudhury added further.

The body also urged the noted intellectuals and members of Assam Sahitya Sabha to look into the matter as well and help them to survive in the state peacefully in the future.