After much anticipation and debate, the final Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC) list was released on Saturday, 31 August, with a total of 3,11,21,004 people found eligible for inclusion.
However, the final list has excluded over 19 lakh applicants, who are now staring at an uncertain future.
“A total of 3,30,27,661 people had applied to be included in the NRC. Of them, 3,11,21,004 have been included in the document and 19,06,657 excluded,” a statement from the NRC State Coordinator’s office said.
Here are a few people among the many who were excluded from the updated list, as of 31 August.
1. Sitting, Former MLAs of AIDUF
Assam All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) MLA Anant Kumar Malo, and former AIUDF MLA Ataur Rahman Majharbhuyan are two among the prominent exclusions.
A member of the Congress party now, Majharbhuyan and his family’s members names were present in the first NRC list published on 31 December 2017, as reported by local news outlet Northeast Now.
But now, Majharbhuyan, his two daughters and son have been struck off from the final list.
“After my name, along with my daughters and son, got struck off from the second and final draft of the NRC list published on 30 July 2018, I was served a notice to visit NSK number 8, Dhudpur, in Katigorah.”Majharbhuyan told Northeast Now.
Although he was reassured that his name would appear on the list, after his documents were cleared, nothing of that sort happened. He has decided to take legal action and go to the Foreigners' Tribunal to get his name included in the NRC.
On the other hand, AIUDF MLA Ananta Kumar Malo, speaking to Outlook, said that he would abide by the rules and regulations of the system.
“I’m an Indian and so were my forefathers. There’s no doubt about that. I don’t know why my and my son and grandson’s name are not in the list. I will follow the rules of the system. I’m hopeful that it will be included.”Anant Kumar Malo, AIDF MLA to Outlook
2. A Kargil War Veteran
Kargil war veteran and retired army officer Mohammad Sanaullah, who spent a few days in detention in May this year after being declared a 'foreigner' by a Foreigners' Tribunal was excluded from the updated list.
Sanaullah's two daughters and a son were reportedly not included, though his wife's name appeared in the list, which validates bonafide Indian citizens in Assam.
Sanaullah was declared a foreigner in 2008. He was sent to a detention camp in May and was released after the Gauhati High Court granted him bail.
The retired Army officer will plan his next move after the high court makes its decision on his appeal, reported Hindustan Times.
3. School Teacher Deputed in NRC Seva Kendra
In a twist of fate, a school teacher who was deputed in an NRC Seva Kendra (NSK) in the city failed the citizenship test.
Declining to identify herself, the woman said she has been working in the NSK for the past three years and had presented all necessary documents – her father's legacy data, her education qualification certificates as well as the service documents of her father, who works with Indian Oil Corporation – to prove her citizenship.
4. Former Publisher of a Daily
In Silchar, Rabindra Debroy, the former publisher of the daily 'Gati', said he was excluded from the final NRC despite having legacy data of 1955 and 1971.
"The names of my wife and other family members were included," the 74-year-old said.
5. Daily Wage Labourer
Phulendra Das, who visited the Morowa NRC Sewa Kendra expressed resentment over exclusion of his name as well as those of his family members. Das said they were invited for hearing to Mukalmua where they produced all their documents but their names were not included in the final NRC.
“I am a daily wage labourer. How can my poor family fight the legal battle to get our names in the NRC?” he asked.
6. Retired Nurse of Assam Health Dept & a Widow
Lila Rani Dey, 65, a retired nurse of Assam health department who hails from Hailakandi district, is frustrated at the exclusion of her name even after she had provided the citizenship certificate of her father.
Names of her brothers and sisters were, however, included in the document.
Usha Devi Todi, a widow living with her son at Dhubri town, too, found herself out of the list.
"I am a poor widow and therefore it is not possible for me to continue the legal fight to include my name", she said in despair.
(With inputs from PTI, Outlook, Hindustan Times & Northeast Now)
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