It is indeed a tough task. On one hand the administration will have to ensure that every illegal migrant is detected. On the other hand, it should also be ensured that in an attempt to make Assam illegal migrant free, no genuine citizen should be harassed. The difficulty to maintain the balance was evident when the first draft of National Register of Citizens (NRC) was published. Many people, claiming themselves as genuine citizens alleged that their names were not in the draft. Now the second draft is slated to be published on July 30 next. Fearing trouble, the administration is taking every possible step to maintain law and order. But to make the things worse, many have started alleging that the government is preparing the NRC with the intention to polarise the people.
To allay such fears Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has tried to smooth the rough feathers by saying that “Government wants to make it clear that the NRC to be published on July 30 is only a draft. After the draft publication, adequate opportunity for claims and objections will be available. All claims and objections will be duly examined. The adequate opportunity of being heard will be given before disposal of claims and objections. Only thereafter, final NRC will be published.” The Union Home Minister has also made it clear that no one will be sent to detention camp even if his or her name is missing from the two drafts. Rajnath Singh also held a meeting with Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and examined the arrangements to face any kind of eventuality before or after the publication of the NRC draft.
But even after such assurance was given by none other than the Union Home Minister, situation is tense in Assam. The minorities are claiming that a conspiracy has been hatched to declare them as illegal immigrants. The government is not at all interested in making Assam infiltrator-free, it is actually trying to make the State free from minorities. As usual such claims by the minorities have been vehemently opposed by others. According to them, no matter what the minorities say, the fact remains that for years Assam as well as entire North-East is the most sought after place for the illegal migrants. No other region or State in the country has suffered as much as the North-East has suffered due to infiltration. Unabated infiltration has virtually swamped the local populace. The situation is such that today the North-Easterners are outsiders in their own land.
So the demand of making North-East free from illegal migrants is totally justified. North-East can’t be used as a dumping ground for people who have entered the country illegally. People that have entered in the country after 1971, should have to leave. There shouldn’t be any relaxation in the cut-off year. But while doing so one must be careful not to harass any one simply because of his or her religion. We should keep in mind that in search of better livelihoods, cross-border migration is a worldwide phenomenon. Even the all powerful America is perturbed over people sneaking in the country illegally. The situation is so grave that soon after becoming the President, Donald Trump had threatened to construct a wall at USA-Mexico border to prevent infiltrators. So, the jobs of preventing infiltration and preparing a flawless NRC are equally difficult. People from both sides should realise this fact and should maintain peace till the final NRC is published.
