Assam: Prateek Hajela Leaves Assam Before a Single Illegal Immigrant can be Deported

Guwahati, November 12, 2019:

Former Assam NRC Coordinator Prateek Hajela has finally left the state. Ironically, Hajela, who had arrived in Assam to fulfill the dream of ridding the State of illegal immigrants, is leaving before any of the so-called "illegals" could be deported.

Hajela, who spent more than two decades in Assam, was reportedly transferred out of Assam to his native Madhya Pradesh, after a Supreme Court order due to an alleged threat to his life. Today, a teary-eyed Hajela was seen bidding adieu to his associates after his last meeting in the State.

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Hajela, who is a 1995 Assam-Meghalaya cadre IAS officer, is credited with introducing the "family legacy data" in the NRC process.

Hajela's contentious departure comes amid calls from various otganizations to stay his transfer order before the wrapping up of the NRC procedure in the State.

Some, like the Assam Public Works (APW) leader Abhijeet Sharma, alleging Prateek Hajela of being involved in corrupt practices, had even called upon the Assam Government to seize Hajela's passport so that he cannot leave the country. Moreover, Sharma and his ilk had demanded an investigation into the entire NRC procedure.

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The APW stated that there is a strong need for the audit of the IT used in the NRC process and that must be performed by some “internationally acclaimed organization”.

It may be mentioned here that more than nineteen lakh people were declared "stateless" after the publication of the final NRC draft on August 31.

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