Guwahati: Bogged down by extensive fear-mongering in a section of the media, Union home minister Rajnath Singh said on Sunday there was no need to panic and all bona fide Indian citizens would get an opportunity to prove their citizenship.
Referring to the fear of those whose names may not make it to the final draft, the home minister said: “The Citizenship Rules provide that any person who is not satisfied with the outcome of claims and objections can appeal in the Foreigners’ Tribunal. Therefore, there is no question of anyone being put in a detention centre after the publication of the draft NRC.”
Saying the National Register of Citizens (NRC), a list of Assam’s citizens, was being updated in accordance with the Assam Accord signed on August 15, 1985 and was being carried out on the directions of the Supreme Court, that is constantly monitoring the process, Mr Singh, who chaired a review meeting with Assam CM Sarbananda Sonowal and state and Central officials on Sunday in New Delhi, said: “There is no reason for panic or fear. No person will be allowed to be harassed. We will ensure that every individual gets justice and is treated in a humane manner. All individuals will have sufficient opportunity for all remedies available under the law.”
Mr Singh said: “The NRC exercise was being carried out in a totally impartial, transparent and meticulous manner and would continue to be so.”
