As the ‘Claims and Objection’ forms doll out from various NRC Seva Kendras or in short NSKs of the state, the ‘Objection form’ has raised many an eyebrows. The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) to handle this issue of ‘Claims and Objections’, as more than 40 lakh people in Assam find their names not listed in the final draft of NRC published on July 30, last, many have to face even hard days ahead, believes, All India Mahila Congress President and Silchar MP Sushmita Dev.
Not just the missing 40 lakh names, but objections can be raised even against anyone whose name already figures in the final draft. Add to that, whosoever fills an objection form, cannot come under the purview of any penalty for doing so. The person can fill an objection, even if he lacks substantial document or proof against the person he is submitting an objection. Keeping all of these in mind, Sushmita Dev wrote a letter to the Register General of India (RGI) Shailesh voicing her concerns on August 23.
In her letter to RGI, Sushmita Dev said, “A lenient view taken in respect of the mischievous complainant, inter alia, gives the impression that the NRC update process is meant for excluding the names even as the ideal methodology should have been an inclusive one.”
She added, “The RGI should file a supplementary affidavit on or before August 28, 2018, to the Honourable Supreme Court of India to incorporate the penal provisions as per the Citizenship Act 1955.”
Supporting her plea, Silchar District Congress Committee (SDCC) too, has written in this regard. Speaking to Northeast Now on Saturday, Partha Ranjan Chakraborty, chairman, Media Cell of SDCC, said, “This objection form would only create more harassment for the residents in the days to come and we too have submitted a letter in this regard to make the necessary changes to the SOP.”
Partha Ranjan Chakraborty added, “I have my name enlisted in the final draft of NRC that has come out on July 30 last, but still I remain in fear as anyone can file an objection against me from anywhere in the state. What kind of rule or law is this? I on behalf of our Congress party demand, immediate provisions, to set this thing in order.”
