Despite a massive furore over the final list of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Sunday reiterated that the exercise will be implemented in the north Indian state as well. Speaking to the reporters, Khattar said he had spoken to retired judge SS Valla over the ongoing NRC issue in Assam and Haryana would follow the suit anytime soon.
Last month too, the BJP leader said that it is a call for the Centre to implement NRC in Haryana or not, but he would oblige if directions in the regard are given. "A decision regarding this will be taken at central level. After that, we will act as and when the states are directed," he told media in August. Besides, Khattar pitched for a similar registration process at the national level.
There have been a war of words between several opposition parties and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee even predicting civil war and bloodbath. While the Centre is determined to impose NRC on several northeastern states, Banerjee has time and again warned the Saffron fold against NRC in West Bengal.
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The final NRC list in Assam was released on August 31 with 19,06,657 of the total 3,30,27,661 applicants excluded and 3,11,22,004 included. The process of NRC Update was started in Assam following a Supreme Court order in 2013 and since then, the apex court had closely monitored the entire process. The process of receipt of NRC application forms started in May 2015 and ended on 31st August 2015. A total of 3,30,27,661 people applied through 68,37,660 application forms.
As per the Supreme Court orders, the draft NRC (complete draft) was published on 30th July, 2018 wherein 2,89,83,677 numbers of persons were found eligible for inclusion. Thereafter, claims were received from 36,26,630 numbers of persons against exclusions.
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Objections were received against inclusion of 1,87,633 persons whose names had appeared in the complete draft. Another additional draft exclusions list was published on June 26, 2019 wherein 1,02,462 persons were excluded.
Currently, Assam, which had faced influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th Century, is the only state having an NRC for its citizens. It was first prepared in 1951 by recording particulars of all the persons enumerated during the Census same year. The demand for NRC implementation in other parts of the country comes months ahead of the Assembly elections in Maharashtra, Haryana and Jharkhand.