Tribals and Indigenous Assamese Need not Panic if Names are Not Included in NRC: Rajya Sabha MP Biswajit Daimary

Kokrajhar, September 1, 2019:

Rajya Sabha MP from Assam, and Bodo People's Front (BPF) politician weighed in on the Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC) on the day of its publication. Moreover, he urged the tribals as well as other indigenous communities to be patient if their names have not been included in the final NRC draft.

Speaking on the sidelines of a programme in Kokrajhar, the Rajya Sabha MP brought up the much-discussed issue of 'citizenship'. Daimary said, "If the 'foreigners' apply for citizenship formally, if they fulfill the criteria of being an Indian citizen, they also can be genuine citizens. India's citizenship system is open to all, and they can apply for it and we have a system to assist them.."

"However, today, we are talking about the illegal aliens. Had they been here legally, I would have nothing to say", he added.

Speaking about the indigenous people who have been left out due to faults in the NRC, he said that if an indigenous Assamese or tribal's name is excluded, even if they haven't applied for claims, there is nothing to fear. Daimary further added that "they can apply properly later."

It may be be mentioned that over nineteen lakh people were rendered 'stateless' after the publication of the final NRC draft on Saturday.

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