'Will be very strict': Assam CM says Aadhaar won't be issued without NRC application number
- In Reports
- 12:34 PM, Sep 09, 2024
- Myind Staff
Starting in October, obtaining an Aadhaar card in Assam will become more challenging due to new measures announced by State Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma aimed at curbing "illegal foreigners."
Sarma stated that the state government will soon release a detailed standard operating procedure, requiring applicants to provide their NRC application receipt number (ARN).
"The submission of the application receipt number of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) will stop the influx of illegal foreigners and the state government will be very strict in issuing Aadhaar cards," the chief minister said on September 7.
Sarma claimed that the number of Aadhaar card applications exceeds the state's population, suggesting the presence of "doubtful citizens." As a result, the government has decided that new applicants will need to provide their NRC ARN number, according to the Chief Minister during a press conference.
He also said, "It will not be easy to get Aadhaar in Assam and hopefully, other states will also be strict in issuing Aadhaar cards." The submission of the ARN will not be applicable to the 9.55 lakh people whose biometrics were locked during the NRC process, and they will get their cards, Sarma said.
The new requirement will not apply to tea garden areas, as many residents have not received their Aadhaar cards due to practical difficulties, such as a lack of adequate biometric machines, the Chief Minister said.
Sarma pointed out that four districts have reported "more applications for Aadhaar cards than their total projected population".
"These districts are Barpeta with 103.74 per cent, Dhubri with 103 per cent, and both Morigaon and Nagaon with 101 per cent," he said.
According to him, the Centre has granted state governments the authority to decide whether an Aadhaar card can be issued to an individual.
''In Assam, we have decided that Aadhaar cards will be issued to new applicants only after a no objection certificate is given by the district commissioner concerned. Such certificates will be issued after minutely examining all aspects. If the applicant has the NRC ARN, it becomes clear that he was in the state before 2014," Sarma said.
The chief minister said his government will "intensify the process of identification of illegal foreigners as several Bangladeshis were apprehended in the last two months and handed over to the authorities of the neighbouring country".
Recent reports indicate an "increase in the number of illegal immigrants being detected, necessitating intensified efforts across the state to proactively curb the movement of illegal migrants while also taking steps to repatriate these individuals", he pointed out.
Sarma announced that border surveillance and patrolling will be intensified in areas managed by border outposts to detect and prevent illegal border crossings. He stated that stronger coordination with the Border Security Force (BSF) and other central agencies will ensure seamless information sharing and joint operations for improved border security.
Additionally, intelligence-gathering mechanisms will be enhanced to focus on cross-border networks and infiltration routes, and community awareness programmes will be implemented in border areas. Residents in these regions will be encouraged to report suspicious movements or new settlers to aid in the early detection of potential illegal immigrants.
The Chief Minister stated that all cases of illegal immigrants must be promptly documented and forwarded to the Foreigners Tribunals for adjudication. Periodic verification of records will be conducted to ensure that illegal immigrants do not evade detection.
Village or field-level government functionaries will be activated to collect information on new or unknown individuals. Upon receiving such information, an enumeration of suspected illegal immigrants will be carried out in consultation with the Assam Police (HQ), the district administration, and the district police.
Sustained efforts will also be made to locate and apprehend individuals who have been declared foreigners by the Foreigners Tribunals but have been absconding.
After identifying suspected individuals or families, their biometrics will be collected. If these individuals possess Aadhaar, PAN, Voter IDs, or passports, their numbers will be recorded for future reference, Sarma added.
From January 2024 to the present, 54 illegal immigrants have been detected—48 in Karimganj, 4 in Bongaigaon, and one each in Haflong GRP and Dhubri district. Of these, 45 were repatriated to their country of origin, while nine were arrested in Karimganj.
Image source: Moneycontrol
Comments