News Reporter
Advocates for a Uniform National Register of Citizens to Curb Illegal Immigration
December 12, 2024:Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has called out the West Bengal government for its lack of strict measures to combat infiltration along its borders, labeling it a "weak link" in India's efforts to address illegal immigration. Sarma's remarks, made during a media interaction, have sparked fresh discussions on border security and the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) across the country.
"West Bengal is Hindering Anti-Infiltration Efforts," Says Sarma
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, Sarma stated, "West Bengal's inability to effectively tackle border infiltration undermines our collective campaign. In Assam and Tripura, we apprehend six to seven infiltrators daily, as seen in my social media updates. However, unless West Bengal strengthens its borders, infiltration will continue to plague the nation."
The Chief Minister stressed the urgency of a nationwide NRC to streamline the documentation of all citizens and address the issue comprehensively. While acknowledging that the timeline and method of implementing such a system are yet to be determined, Sarma emphasized that a uniform approach is essential for national security.
New Aadhaar Verification Protocol in Assam
In a significant policy decision, Sarma announced that the General Administration Department in Assam will now oversee the verification of Aadhaar applications. Following a Cabinet meeting, the Chief Minister revealed that an Additional District Commissioner (ADC) would be designated in each district to supervise the process.
Under the revised protocol, Aadhaar applications will undergo a rigorous two-step verification:
- Initial Scrutiny: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) will forward applications to the Assam government. Local Circle Officers (COs) will check if the applicant or their family members had applied for inclusion in the NRC.
- Field Verification: For cases with pending NRC applications, COs will conduct detailed field-level verifications as per Supreme Court guidelines. Only after satisfactory verification will Aadhaar be issued.
Applications with no prior NRC link will be outright rejected, with notifications sent to the central government. Sarma clarified that central government employees working in other states, who did not apply for NRC inclusion, are exempt from these new rules.
Reaffirming Security through Aadhaar
The Chief Minister reiterated that these measures aim to prevent individuals with questionable credentials from obtaining Aadhaar, thereby ensuring a robust and credible identification system.
The final NRC list, published on August 31, 2019, included 3.11 crore names out of 3.30 crore applicants, leaving over 19 lakh individuals excluded. With these recent announcements, Sarma aims to reinforce Assam's commitment to combating infiltration and securing its borders.
This development places the spotlight back on inter-state coordination and the pressing need for a unified approach to managing illegal immigration in India.