Former Tezpur MP, RP Sharma said Gorkhas living in Assam are indigenous people and no one from the community should be left out in the final NRC list.
The former MP claimed that claimed the Gorkhas have been living in Assam for ages.
Sharma said, “To see if anyone is left out during the NRC update process, a committee has been constituted by Asom Gorkha Sanmilan (AGS) and All Assam Gorkha Students’ Union (AAGSU).”
The final NRC list is scheduled to be published by August 31, 2019.
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Sharma attended the 75th Balidan Divas which was organized to commemorate Gorkha martyr Durga Balla at Diphu.
He said, “I urge my Gorkha brothers and sisters not to worry about their names being left out during Assam’s NRC update process.”
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“We are indigenous community living for ages and I have urged the Assam government that no Gorkha be left out from the NRC final list. If any name is left out then we are going to appeal to the higher authority,” he said.
Advocating inclusion of all names, Sharma said, “India is a country in which there are different communities, castes and religions.”
“There may be people from different religious faith including Hindu, Sikh, Budhism, Muslim or Christian. But every Indian citizen should be included in the NRC list,” said Sharma.
“I heard that several people of Hindu-Bengali and Hindi-speaking communities are being left out during the NRC update process. But the names of genuine people should be included in the NRC list,” he added.
Regarding granting of ST status to the Gorkhas, the former MP said, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi has committed to grant ST status to the Gorkhas.”
In its manifesto for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had announced to provide ST status to the Gorkhas.
The Central government has given NOC to eight states including West Bengal, Sikkim, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Mizoram and Tripura for scheduling of the Gorkhas.
“In Assam, the Gorkhas should be given ST status,” the former MP asserted.
The programme was also attended by BJP East Karbi Anglong District Committee president and Karbi Anglong Autonomous Council (KAAC) Executive Member Ratan Teron.
Besides, AGS, Karbi Anglong District Committee (KADC) president Krishna Prasad Sharma and general secretary Raju Bhattarai and president, AAGSU, KADC Suraj Chetri were also present.