Assam NRC draft released: Who said what

Guwahati, July 30: The much-anticipated second and final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) was released in Guwahati on Monday.

Over 40 lakh people were left out of the final draft. The final draft has left over 40 lakh of the 3.29 crore people out of the list. The officials clarified that those left out will not be branded as foreigner and no punitive action will be taken against them. While the chief minister calls it a historic day, the opposition parties have dubbed its a political motive of the BJP. here is who said what.

CM Sonowal calls it a 'historic day'

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal congratulated the people of the state after the successful publication of the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). "The historic day will remain etched in their memories forever," PTI quoted Sonowal as saying.

The CM thanked the officials who were involved in updating the NRC. "For this remarkable feat, I extend my heartiest congratulations to the 55,000 officials engaged in NRC updation process and the people living across the Barak and Brahmaputra valleys, plains and hills of the state," he said. The chief minister has also urged people to refrain from making "inflammatory" remarks, an official release said, news agency PTI reported.

It's just a draft, says Rajnath Singh

Home Minister Rajnath Singh assured that there will be adequate time for those left out of the NRC list to appeal. "People should not be scared. The NRC procedure has been done without any bias. I would like to assure that all those who have been left out will be given a chance to raise objections," he said.

Congress calls draft 'political motive of BJP'

Calling out the 40 lakh names that were not included in the NRC draft a "very high figure" and "very surprising", Ripun Bora, the Congress Chief in Assam, said: "There are lot of irregularities in the report. We will raise this issue with the Government and in the Parliament. Political motive of BJP is also behind this," ANI reports.

Kiren Rijiju on Assam NRC

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju said the NRC issue is sensitive and appealed others to not spread misinformation. Responding to the Congress' claim that the NRC issue was raised with political motivations, Rijiju said: "Why are such claims being attested to an exercise ordered by the Supreme Court. The SC is monitoring the entire process. Government is only doing its job."

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi asks media to be sensitive

Congress MP Gaurav Gogoi has urged media channels to be 'sensitive' while covering the final NRC draft list. He also expressed gratitude towards government employees for working hard on the NRC draft.

Govt intentionally eliminated more than 40 lakh applicants: TMC

Central Govt has intentionally eliminated more than 40 lakh religious & linguistic minorities from NRC(National Register of Citizens) which will have serious ramifications on the demography of different states adjoining Assam, PM should come to house & clarify it, said SS Roy, TMC.

Mamata Banerjee calls it a game plan

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee lashed out at the NRC draft list, calling it a "game-plan" and a "divide and rule policy".

"There were people who have Aadhaar cards and passports but still their names are not in the draft list. Names of people were removed on the basis of surnames also. Is the Government trying to do forceful eviction?" she asked.

Govt has no role in NRC, entire process carried out under SC's direction, says MoS

Speaking to reporters outside the Parliament MoS PMO Jitendra Singh said the Opposition, particularly the Congress was trying to politicise the issue, when the government has no role in the NRC process. "Home ministry categorically said that government has no role in it. The entire process was carried out under Supreme Court's direction. The draft is not final, people can still file their claims. Opposition particularly Congress is trying to politicise the issue," he said.

Photo credit: ANI