Guwahati: The All Assam Minorities Students Union on Friday asked the people of the state not to be swayed by rumours on the original inhabitants issue and to await the hearing of their petitions in the Supreme Court on November 15.
It had filed two petitions on October 5, challenging the decision of Gauhati High Court to disallow certificates issued by panchayat officials and circle officers to married women as proof of relationship with their fathers and forefathers for the National Register of Citizens (NRC) update. The other petition was regarding the guidelines required to be included in the original inhabitants category. The cases will be heard on November 15.
Union president Azizur Rahman said, "In 2015, we had approached Prateek Hajela (co-ordinator for NRC, Assam) regarding the definition of original inhabitants but he could not give a satisfactory reply. At that time he had assured us that there will be no discrimination. Now he has labelled 17.4 lakh persons out of 48 lakh, whose panchayat certificates had been rejected, as original inhabitants. We want to know what criteria has been followed in doing this as no guidelines have been set either by the Centre or the state government. The situation has created confusion and apprehension in the minds of the people in the state. Moreover, some individuals and organisations are making misleading remarks, compounding the issue. We request such people to desist from speaking on the issue till the Supreme Court delivers a judgment."
Hajela had provided the figure of 17.4 lakh to the Supreme Court on October 12 and said the rest of the 48 lakh rejected certificates were being examined. Advocates in the Supreme Court had also asked Hajela to clear the criteria and definition of original inhabitant and the basis of the report.
The union said it was fighting for all indigenous communities of the state to be included in the category of original inhabitants. It also declared that all people residing in the state before the prior cut-off date of March 24, 1971, should be declared original inhabitants irrespective of community or religion.
"The Constitution does not have provision for two classes of citizens," Rahman added.
The Baksa unit of the union is organising a public meeting at Bhakuamari Chawk playground at Salbari subdivision in the district on Sunday.
Minhajul Imran, the president of the Baksa unit, will preside over the meeting.