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cost of the people of both the updated and set December 31, Register of Citizens (NRC) draft,
countries. 2017 as the deadline. it was revealed that 40 lakh
And of course, any war in The NRC was meant to decide illegal immigrants are residing
general and Indo-Pakistan who is a bona fide Indian citizen in Assam. It was a monumental
war in particular are nothing and those who fail to enlist in the folly and monstrous blunder
but staging of Aesop’s story of register, will be deemed illegal of both the Assam and Union
a monkey winning the bread migrants. Political consensus in Government not to implement
while two cats fight for the same. the State is that the NRC is the the Accord at the lapse of 33
Sujit De best mechanism to separate the years. Had it been implemented
citizen from illegal migrants. soon after the conclusion of
Whatever be the charges of Now, this exercise has thrown Accord, there wouldn’t have
rigging, the election results up ominous results. The fear that been any opposition.
make it clear that the voters of a huge section of the population The Opposition, the Left
Pakistan were tired of both the runs the risk of being alienated liberals and self-proclaimed
Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) seems credible at this point. activists, who have fiercely
and the Pakistan Peoples Party The Congress is unnecessarily opposed the NRC, would have
and wanted a change. Cricketer- objecting to the NRC, by alleging not lodged any protest against
turned-politician Imran Khan that there is a “political motive” the NRC which left out 40 lakh
broadened his voter base by of the BJP behind the exclusion illegal immigrants, judging the
promising a “new Pakistan” that of such a large number of people then tense and provocative
is free of graft. It is time for him in the final draft. situation in the State. Showing
to keep his promise and bring Political parties and all humanity to absorb them is
about that change for the better. concerned need to exhibit against our national interest.
Khan’s innings as Prime responsibility so that peaceful niMai Charan Swain
Minister will be closely watched ambience is continued till
for his initiatives on the social the final NRC comes out. It’s a At the end of the day, it is the
and economic fronts, his momentous occasion for the illegals who will have to face
equation with the military and State and its people whose the consequences. For the
religious hardliners, and his existence had been under threat Rohingyas, Bangladesh is
policy towards India. He should due to large-scale cross-border negotiating with Myanmar and
handle India-Pakistan relations infiltration from Bangladesh is curious to repatriate them
with great sensitivity. over decades. After all, the NRC back. Similarly, that country
It is vital for India and updating would also act as a should have no objection in
Pakistan to establish peace. deterrent for future illegal influx taking back these illegals.
Pakistan could do well to invite from the neighbouring country. However, the problem, as such,
Prime Minister Narendra jS aCharya erupted due to the inception
Modi for Khan’s swearing-in of Pakistan, turning a portion
ceremony as a goodwill gesture. The Assam Accord was of Bengal as foreign territory.
And if it does, Prime Minister concluded on August 14, 1985, If these Bangladeshis are keen
Modi should definitely make by the then Prime Minister to reside in Assam, they should
use of that opportunity to repair Rajiv Gandhi and the Assam start a movement to reunite it
relations. Student Union, headed by with Bharat.
G DaviD Milton Prafull Mahant on the issue lr Gupta
of illegal immigrants, especially
NRC updating will curb from Bangladesh, which National policy needed
future influx of illegals outnumbered the native for water management
With reference to the report “Tension erupts as population of the State. As a country, we appear to
40 lakh names missing in NRC” by Abdul Wasey lack foresight as far as water
(August 15) Among other points
A massive bureaucratic exercise mentioned in the Accord, the management is concerned. It
is under the process in Assam most prominent provision is is a shame that the rain bounty
ever since the Supreme Court that illegal immigrants, who this year has been allowed to
ordered that the National penetrated into India after flow unchecked into the sea. A
Registrar of Citizens (NRC), March 24, 1971, must not be national policy should be drawn
which the State Government considered for citizenship. up on how to store a deluge of
had prepared along with the After the preparation and this volume.
national census in 1951, be publication of the The National a. jainulabDeen

Tehelka / 31 august 2018 7 www.Tehelka.com