The AIUDF on Tuesday termed the absence of complainants in the NRC hearings for claims and objections in Assam’s Goalpara district as a preplanned harassment on the minority people.
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, Abdul Hai, Goalpara district vice president of All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF), said, “On Tuesday, there was a hearing of a girl Saniara Khatun whose name was published in both first and final draft NRC.”
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“However, her nationality was challenged by one Vikash Barman according to the notice she had received,” said Hai.
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When Khatun arrived for the hearing on Tuesday in the District Registrar of Citizens Registration (DRCR) office, she found that the office has no record of Vikash Barman as a complainant.
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Rather, the office record showed one Khanin Pathak as the complainant who was too absent in the hearing.
This angered Khatun and her family members and they insisted upon the authority to verify the identity of both the persons.
As the situation became hot, Nur Hussain, additional deputy commissioner (ADC) arrived and tried to normalise the situation by saying that if the complainant remains absent, Saniara will get ex-party verdict.
However, the matter remained unsolved till the filling of this report.
Later, talking to media persons, Hai said, “Some people have filed objections through the NRC claims and objections process only to harass the minority people.”
“But surprisingly, whenever the date of hearing of the case falls, these complainants remain absent. Why? Is it not harassment for the victims to travel long distances and attend the hearing which costs thousands of rupees for these poor people?” Hai questioned.
Hai also alleged that some office-bearers of the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) are involved in filing false objections. The party also demanded immediate closure of the false objections.
The NRC authority in the state has revealed that about 2.5 lakh objections were filed only in the last date (December 31) for filing objections.
On Sunday, the Assam State Minority Students Union (AAMSU) in a press conference also alleged that one particular organisation has filed these false objections against the religious and linguistic minorities in the state.