Tarun Gogoi
Former Chief Minister of Assam Tarun Gogoi addressing a press conference at Koinadhora in Guwahati on January 10. UB Photos

Congress in Assam has floated the idea of setting up an appellate authority for quick disposal of the cases of genuine Indians if their names by any chance do not figure even in the final NRC.

The party will submit a proposal to the union government for the formation of an appellate authority before the final NRC.

Addressing a press conference here former Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi on Wednesday said, “We will propose the government of India to make a law for setting up an appellate authority headed by a judge to dispose of the claims of genuine Indians whose names do not figure even in the final NRC.”

“If anybody’s name is missing in the final NRC, then where will he or she go? It takes much time to get a case to be disposed of in the foreigner’s tribunal. It is better to have an appellate authority headed by a judge with other members to dispose of the claims quickly,” he added.

“We will send the proposal before the final NRC,” Gogoi said.

“I have floated the idea, let there be a discussion among the people,” he added.

Gogoi was critical of the functioning of the NRC in the state. He cited the example of Justice Aftab Hussain Saikia whose name did not even figure in the first draft NRC.

“If this is the situation then people will naturally doubt whether these people are able to make a correct NRC,” the former chief minister said.

Gogoi criticized NRC coordinator Prateek Hajela and said the draft NRC shows Hajela has not even cared the Supreme Court guideline. “The Apex Court has asked him to enter the names of genuine Indian in the NRC but Hajela has done the opposite by omitting the names of genuine Indians in the draft NRC,” he added.

Interestingly Gogoi also said Silchar MP Susmita Dev’s resentment against the draft NRC is natural. “Susmita’s resentment is natural,” Gogoi said and questioned, “How careless they the NRC officials could be?”

He also said that Congress would never allow any genuine Indian whether he or she is Bengali or Hindi speaking to go to any other state.