No worries over Assam NRC draft

Amid concern over the controversial citizenship verification process which put a question mark on the status of over 4 million people living in Assam, India has said Bangladesh has nothing to worry about and it will have no impact on relations between the two countries.

“This is entirely an internal matter of India and the Supreme Court of India is monitoring the process. The National Register of Citizens [NRC] exercise is being carried out in a totally objective, transparent and meticulous manner,” said Indian High Commissioner to Bangladesh Harsh Vardhan Shringla.

Talking to editors and senior journalists at the chancery of the Indian High Commission in Dhaka yesterday, he said the draft of the NRC was released on Monday and the process was mandated by the apex court.

“It's only a draft…. It would not move to deport anybody, and would allow adequate time to every individual of Assam State for a lengthy appeal process for those left out of the registry.”

Shringla said India is a democratic country and a genuine Indian irrespective of his cast, religion or ethnic roots would never be sent out of the country.

“No person is allowed to be harassed and no one is allowed to create fear or panic. There is no question of anyone being put in detention camps. Moreover, no one will be treated as a foreigner if his or her name does not appear in the NRC draft,” the diplomat said.

He said the Indian government would ensure that every individual gets justice and treated in a humane manner. If anyone has one document out of 16 like the passport, National ID, ration card and birth certificate, he or she will be enlisted in the NRC, the Indian envoy said.

If any Bangladeshi citizen was found after completion of the NRC verification process, India would take it up officially with the Bangladesh government, he said. “No one will be deported to Bangladesh without consultation with the Bangladesh authorities and following the due process.”

So there was no reason for Bangladeshis to be worried about over the ongoing NRC process in Assam, Shringla mentioned. 

He said no one should be confused or misled by the news published in Indian media because India is the world's largest democracy and it has very vibrant media. Anyone can express what he or she believes and media also can publish them, he explained.

First secretaries (political) at the Indian High Commission Rajesh Uike and Nabanita Chakrabarti also spoke on the occasion.