By Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati : Joining the long list of Assam leaders to opine on Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC), the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) General Secretary Lurinjyoti Gogoi too shared his opinion ahead of its August 31 publication. “Finally, after all this while, they had the chance to do it right, after decades of waiting. Thus, we are hoping for a free and fair NRC”, Lurinjyoti Gogoi told media persons. Weighing in on the criticism of the NRC Co-ordinator Prateek Hajela, Lurin said, “Hajela is not doing everything alone, he has about about 5,000 Government officers assisting him. Thus, if there are any discrepancies, he should not shoulder the blame alone.” Speaking about the objections of several prominent BJP leaders, including Assam BJP President Ranjeet Dass, and allegations that it contains errors, Lurinjyoti Gogoi said, “They (the BJP) should have informed the Court. Have they submitted a single affidavit saying that Hajela has not been performing his duties sincerely?” “This is merely a ‘political propaganda”, said the AASU General Secretary.

The publication date of the final draft of the Assam National Register of Citizens (NRC) marches ever-closer, as the NRC-body, headed by Co-Ordinator Prateek Hajela prepares to release the list on August 31, less than four days from today. The demand for the NRC started in 1980, ahead of the Assam Agitation of 1985, which had a great impact on the State and culminated in the signing of the highly-controversial ‘Assam Accord’. A long spell of discussions and deliberations followed after the signing of the Assam Accord, and the Government of India and the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) presided at the negotiating table for ten long years (1998-2008). Modalities were prepared from 2008-2013, and actual work, under the supervision of the Supreme Court, began in 2013. While all of this has been going on, Assam has seen 7 Governments, headed by 5 Chief Ministers, and 3 parties rule the State. But no decisive move has been taken regarding the NRC up until now.