The Exclusions from the National Register of the citizens released on Monday has given yet another chance to the opposition parties to bond against the Government.
Top election officer this morning said that the ones who have their names registered in the electoral roll can vote as of now. The exclusion of four million people from NRC of Assam in a drive against illegal immigrants from Assam has sparked a massive political controversy.
The ruling BJP has been accused of targeting these people for political reasons, ahead of a string of state elections and the 2019 national polls.
“Those left out of the Assam citizen’s list can vote if their names are in the voter’s list and they fulfill all conditions. The Election Commission will publish a voter list in January and will not wait for the final NRC,” Chief Election Commissioner OP Rawat said this morning.
“Nothing changes now,” he said, adding that the election panel is coordinating with the NRC.
The chief election commissioner said it was “premature” to think about whether 40 lakh people can vote. “There are permutations and combinations. Many of them may be below 18,” he said.
The draft National Register of Citizens is the result of years of agitation by many in Assam demanding expulsion of immigrants from Bangladesh just over the border.
Exclusions from the list released on Monday gave fresh ammo to opposition parties against the government.
Maamta Banergee CM West Bengal, yesterday warned against “civil war and bloodbath”. Her Trinamool Congress led a protest by lawmakers from seven political parties, who held placards demanding “Stop this divide and rule policy” and “Why have Indian citizens become refugees in their own country?”
Amit Shah responded to this, saying his party was the only one that dared to take a firm stance against illegal immigration.
The government has repeatedly said that no action will be taken against those not included in the draft list and people will have a chance to prove their citizenship till September. The Supreme Court confirmed it yesterday.
A final list is expected in December, but rights activists fear it might strip citizenship from many, especially Muslims, who have lived in the region for decades.