Author: City Correspondent
Publication: The Assam Tribune
Date: November 7, 2007
URL: http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=nov0807/at03
The State Government's lackadaisical attitude
in finalising the modalities of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) has
emerged as the most serious threat to the indigenous communities. While expressing
this concern on Wednesday, the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuba Chatra Parishad (AJYCP)
told media-persons that the Tarun Gogoi Government had exposed its anti-people
nature by turning its back on the indigenous people.
AJYCP president Putul Dutta and general secretary
Manoj Baruah said that the Government had put at stake the interest of the
State by sleeping over the issue of updating the NRC.
Different political parties and student organisations
have been demanding of the Government to update the NRC on the ground that
such a step will pave the way for identification of foreigners and illegal
voters.
The AJYCP criticised the Government for ignoring
the demand for updating the NRC and said that the Chief Minister's indifference
was evidence of the Government's total lack of interest towards the burning
problems of the State.
"The people of Assam are waiting eagerly
for the update of the NRC, but the Government has failed to understand the
concerns of the people," said Dutta.
Dutta expressed dissatisfaction with the Government
for not being able to decide on the modality of the NRC. "The Government
has not yet decided on the modality of the NRC. It could well be understood
how long it would take to complete the task and get the foreigners expelled
from the State," said Dutta calling upon the Chief Minister to dispel
the doubts in regard to the NRC by coming out with a white paper on the matter.
On the other hand, Baruah said that the Government
must maintain transparency in regard to the NRC and warned that the AJYCP
would not sit idle if the issue was pushed to the back burner.
Baruah announced that the AJYCP will protest
against the Government's dilly dally stand in regard to the matter of update
of the NRC on November 13 all over the State.
The AJYCP office-bearers noted with concern
the increasing presence of fundamentalist groups in the State and asked the
Government to take stringent steps to wipe out any trace of either Hindu or
Islamic fundamentalism.