Dinesh Kamath's Editorial 'NRC is causing great anxiety' that was published in Newsband

NRC is causing great anxiety

The National Register of Citizens published on Monday has sparked great anxiety. It is to the credit of the NRC bureaucracy and its 55,000-odd workforce that timelines have been adhered to. Even a skilfully devised system of digitised mapping of family trees is subject to human interface, subjective bias, and the inherent flaws. There should be responsibility to ensure that people who have lived here a long time, or those who know no other home, are not left high and dry in any eventuality. On that front, the Central and State governments must step up their assurances that there is no need for panic.

The claims and objections will be placed before the Supreme Court by mid-August, the window for contestation could be extended by a month beyond September 28. There should be rules to enable applicants to move the Foreigners’ Tribunal.  

Bigger challenges lie ahead, especially after the final NRC list determines the precise number of deemed illegal immigrants; the state then has to grapple with what to do next. It is easy to detain and deport illegal immigrants instantly when they cross the border. But when people have been allowed (or they have managed) to be in India for so long, when they have built their lives and become part of local economies and communities, they cannot and must not be rendered state-less on the basis of a list.

The painstaking efforts of Assam and India government in compiling register is laudable. Parting is always painful and so for India to deport 4 million after having housed them in their soil for nearly half century would be poignant as much as it would be frightening for Bangladesh to face suddenly an influx as it would hit the economy instantly. All said and done, statelessness of these people who belong to the subcontinent is serious issue and it is for India and Bangla Desh to reach an amicable solution failing which it may warrant UN’s intervention or deliberations in International forums.

First, central government has to ensure that vigilantes don’t harm non-NRC candidates. Then they should carry out remaining procedures. Since the problem was known for over thirty years, the process of granting voter's card, Aadhar Card, should have been undertaken applying checks and balances-now placed for scrutiny for inclusion in NRC Draft. This would have filtered large majority - opting to go back to their original countries. But that is wishful thinking now. On humanitarian grounds the solution would be only possible if all the remaining states agree to take responsibility for settling such people.

One country's inability to curb illegal immigration can't be a model for other able nations to emulate. India is suffering due to illegal immigration. Let's recognize that first. Later we can come to a consensus on what to do with the illegals without hurting the strong sentiments of pseudo human rights enthusiasts, people trying to gain vote Bank mileage using immigrants etc.