Assam CM predicts 3-5 lakh CAA applications in state, mainly from NRC excluded

GUWAHATI: Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has predicted that approximately three to five lakh individuals in the state will seek Indian citizenship under the citizenship amendment act (CAA), emphasizing that these applicants will primarily consist of those excluded from the updated national register of citizens (NRC).

Sarma highlighted that among those excluded from the NRC list in Assam were around 7 lakh Muslims and 5 lakh Hindu-Bengalis, along with others.

He explained that many Hindu-Bengalis, who had arrived at various times and resided in refugee camps in Assam were not included in the NRC despite submitting stamped papers as proof of their stay, due to the former NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela's rejection of the documents.

In an interview with a local television channel, the Assam chief minister noted that while some of the 5 lakh Hindu-Bengalis who applied for inclusion in the NRC would apply under the CAA, others would pursue legal options.

Furthermore, Sarma mentioned that applicants excluded from the NRC included 2 lakh individuals identified as “proper Assamese”, such as those with the Das surname, the Koch-Rajbongshi' community, and 1.5 lakh Gorkhas.

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Sarma assured that the number of applications under the CAA would range from three to five lakh, with a margin of error of 10 percent.

He refuted claims of significantly higher numbers, asserting his firm grasp of the Assam’s political dynamics after years in politics.

The Supreme Court-monitored NRC, published on August 31, 2019, excluded 19 lakh applicants out of 3.4 crore.

Earlier this month, the Centre implemented the citizenship amendment act (CAA) by notifying the rules, aimed at expediting citizenship for undocumented non-Muslim migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014.