As Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma pronounced that the state will put into practice a new policy regarding Aadhaar card application, the move was termed as welcome by Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) Chairman, Jagdambika Pal, who reiterated full support for the decision of the Assam government.
Individuals who have failed to apply for inclusion into the National Register of Citizens (NRC) under this new regulation will witness rejection of their Aadhaar card applications.
The decision, which the Assam Cabinet approved on Wednesday, is aimed at ensuring that only those who are legally recognized as citizens of India will be issued Aadhaar cards in the state.
CM Sarma said on Wednesday that the state Cabinet has approved the proposal to issue a standard operating protocol (SOP) for issuing Aadhaar cards in future and if there is no application for the NRC, then the Aadhaar request would be immediately rejected and a report submitted to the Centre.
Speaking to IANS, Pal said that it is within the state's rights to make such decisions.
He emphasized the significance of the NRC, saying, "Everyone should at least get their NRC done as the NRC is a list aimed at identifying Indian citizens in Assam, with the state government aiming to ensure that only legal residents are included in the process."
The move also comes amidst growing political tension, especially ahead of the Delhi Assembly elections.
On Sunday, Aam Aadmi Party accused BJP of settling Rohingya refugees in Delhi, while simultaneously bashing them.
Pal responded to this saying, "These people are Rohingyas, Bangladeshis who are not even our citizens…I want to tell you that West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee will support them, the Congress will do the same. But in Delhi, why will we (BJP) want that someone come and take over our properties illegally?"
Pal also gave insight into the latest developments concerning the JPC on the Waqf Amendment Bill and mentioned that the JPC had reviewed 44 amendments proposed by his team, with the government expressing differing views on some of them.
"When we have referred this Bill to the Joint Parliamentary Committee on the suggestion of Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, we take their opinion, and based on their views, we prepare our report," Pal stated.
He also referred to the involvement of significant institutions like the Darul Uloom Deoband, a renowned Islamic educational centre, in the ongoing discussions about the Bill.
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