Guwahati: The Krishak Mukti Sangram Samiti (KMSS), a peasants' rights group of Assam, on Monday announced the setting up of legal aid cells in every legislative Assembly constituency of the state for citizens whose names have been excluded from the final draft of the NRC.

"We will set up legal aid cells for Indian citizens, who have been excluded from final draft NRC, to help in the claim process. Such cells will be set up in every legislative Assembly constituency and our members will help them. We have called an emergent executive meeting on Tuesday to formulate a plan to set up the cells," KMSS leader Akhil Gogoi said.

Akhil thanked the Supreme Court for "playing a great role" in the NRC update process.

"It is one of the largest administrative exercises done in the post-Independence era and 100 per cent credit goes to the Supreme Court. Both the central and state governments had conspired to slow down the process but because of the court's intervention, they could not do so. We are also thankful to Prateek Hajela and all officials involved, Assam Public Works president Aabhijeet Sharma and the AASU who also played a vital role," Akhil said.

Akhil demanded adequate time for all people for claims and objections. "All those who have been excluded from the final NRC will have to be deported but by safeguarding their human rights. The Indian government should immediately sign a repatriation treaty with neighbouring countries. We will not accept work permit provision for illegal citizens," he said.

The All Assam Minority Students' Union (AAMSU), on the other hand, alleged that because of negligence of officials concerned the number of bona fide Indians' names have been excluded from the draft. It appealed to the public not to panic if their names are not included in the final draft.

"There is nothing to be sad or happy about the publication of final draft NRC. Because in the final NRC, there is possibility of both inclusion and exclusion of large number of people. We are planning to assist unlettered and poor genuine Indian citizens in the claims process," AAMSU president Azizur Rahman said.

The CPM Assam state committee said every single Indian citizen must be included in final NRC and has demanded adequate time for the claim process.

"The government should appoint one or two officers in each seva kendra exclusively for helping people who would make claims for inclusion in the final NRC," Deben Bhattacharya, secretary of CPM Assam state committee, said.