Some incumbent and former legislators of Assam on Saturday could not pass the acid test of citizenship, and may be categorised as “foreigners”.
A number of political leaders mostly belonging to religious minority community failed to make it to the final list of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which was released on Saturday morning.
All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) legislator from South Abhayapuri Ananta Kumar Malo and his son’s name were excluded from the NRC final list.
Dalgaon Congress MLA Ilias Ali’s daughter’s name has also been left out from the final list.
The name of former AIUDF legislator from Katigorah Ataur Rahman Majharbhuyan also has not figured on the list.
Former MLA Mazarbhuiya, who had won Katigorah seat on an AIUDF ticket in 2006 and 2011, and now with the Congress party, finds himself in no man’s land.
Having used his own legacy data, Mazarbhuiya, had his entire families’ name in the first draft of NRC published on December 31, 2017.
But, to his utter surprise, his name along with both his daughters and his son were struck off from the final draft published on July 30, 2018.
As all hell broke loose, Mazarbhuiya approached the district NRC coordinators office and was assured that since all his legacy data and documents were valid and justified, his name along with his two daughters and only son would be incorporated.
But, not to be, as on August 17 last, a fresh notice was served by NRC authorities for them to produce before a hearing in Karimganj district and likewise do the necessary re-verification.
Speaking to Northeast Now about this ordeal, Mazarbhuiya, said, “After my name along with my daughters and son got struck off from the second and final draft of the NRC list published on July 30, 2018, I was served a notice to visit NSK number 8, Dhudpur, in Katigorah.”
“Having checked all my documents, I was assured of rectifying the mistakes, but, that never happened, it seems,” he added.
“Today, I am even surprised that one of the names of my daughter has been incorporated while, my other daughter, my son and myself are out of it,” he further said.
“We cannot raise our voices and shout as to why it happened as such with us, as there are many lakhs in Assam going through this ordeal as of today,” said the former MLA.
He added, “I would now have to face the Foreigners Tribunal, but, my faith in such tribunals has completely diminished after watching what the D voters are facing.”
“I would also appeal all whose names are not there to maintain peace and rather approach the legal course of action in the coming days,” he also said.