Infiltration continuing on Indo-Bangla border, says Tarun Gogoi

Guwahati, July 17: Stating that border protection is a primary responsibility of the Centre, Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi today alleged that infiltration along the Indo-Bangla border is continuing and Border Security Force (BSF) has not been able to stop it.

"Yes, infiltration is going on. But who is responsible for this? Border protection is the responsibility of the Centre," Gogoi said at a press conference here.

"I am not saying I am not responsible at all. I am responsible for identifying them in Assam. But the primary responsibility is of BSF, which is under the Centre," he said. The Centre is directly responsible for failing to protect the border as BSF, which is under the Union government, has not been able to stop illegal immigration from Bangladesh, he added.

Talking about the ongoing update exercise of National Register of Citizens (NRC), he said the Supreme Court has rejected the additional affidavit submitted by the state government seeking relaxation of norms to include names of "genuine Indian citizens" coming to Assam after 1971.

Currently, NRC is being updated by including the names of all Indians who came to Assam on or before March 25, 1971.

"We will file an interim application very soon requesting the same. We want that no Indian living in Assam should be excluded from the NRC. However, it is up to the Supreme Court to decide," the Chief Minister said.

Border protection is the responsibility of the Centre: Gogoi

He said over 11 lakh people have so far submitted the application form for NRC and the last date for it is July 31.

The state government advocated in the additional affidavit for unconditional inclusion of all the Scheduled Tribes (STs) of hills and plains and other six ethnic communities -- Morans, Motoks, Chutias, Tai-Ahoms, Koch- Rajbonghis and tea tribes in the NRC.

"Moreover, based on the caste certificates issued by the competent authorities, the SCs, OBCs, MOBCs, the persons and their ancestors residing in Assam for more than 100 years should automatically find their names in the ongoing updation of the NRC," it had said.

The Assam government advocated for inclusion of the "original inhabitants" based on the Citizenship Act, 1955, Rule 2003 in the NRC.

The state government has also recommended extending the time-frame for submission of NRC application, supply of additional computers along with operators, simplification of the entire procedure and house to house visit by officials for completion of the entire exercise.

PTI