Guwahati: Even after the volatile political scenario, the Centre is yet to take a call on two key issues — Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 and the fate of the people, who will be declared as foreigner after the ongoing process of ‘claims and objection’ of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
Admitting that these two issues are afflicting the political scenario of Assam, security sources pointed out that NRC authorities have started receiving claims and objections besides scrutinising the citizenship of more than 40 lakh people left out in the final publication of the draft NRC.
Pointing out that home ministry was ceased with several proposals on handling these foreigners, security sources said that one of the proposals — which was proactively considered by the home ministry — proposes to disfranchise those declared foreigners besides granting them work permit.
Referring the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill 2016 which has snow balled into a major political issue in Assam, security sources said that home ministry was awaiting direction from the political leadership which has kept the issue on hold.
Informing that political leadership was divided over the issue, security sources said that a section of leadership is of view that Hindu refugees can’t be denied citizenship. However, the biggest challenge is to find places for them for settlement.
Security sources said that home ministry was keeping a close watch on the ground situation, but delay in decision making is facilitating opportunity to the “radical forces” to regroup them.
Refusing to divulge more on “radical forces,” sources said that the ministry was very concerned over the recent killing of five Bengali civilians by outlawed Ulfa-I rebels in Upper Assam’s Tinsukia district.
Pointing out that the home ministry wanted to go into the root of this killing, sources said that NIA may be asked to probe the killing to investigate the root cause of this massacre.
