Assam BJP president Ranjeet Kumar Dass on Sunday said the government has urged the Supreme Court to extend the deadline for submission of claims to include names in the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The names of nearly 2.89 crore citizens from among 3.29 crore, appeared in the final draft NRC, published on July 30. The names of over 40.7 lakh citizens were left out. The deadline for filing claims is December 15.

Dass, who is on a visit to south Assam’s Barak Valley to woo voters in the run-up to panchayat elections on December 9, at a news conference here said the government has requested the apex court to extend the deadline in view of the panchayat polls.

He said the government stands behind the genuine citizens of Assam and everyone should get equal chance to submit claims.

“The BJP had raised its voice when NRC co-ordinator Prateek Hajela had given a proposal to the Supreme Court, saying that the number of documents for filing of claims should be cut down from 15 to 10,” he said.

On the panchayat elections, Dass said the BJP would emerge as the winner. “The BJP will top the panchayat poll results. No other party will be able to dethrone us,” he added.

The BJP state president said people are “very satisfied by chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal’s dynamic leadership and this government has succeeded in bringing good days” for the people of Assam.

“Earlier, mosquito-nets were given to people. This government has changed that trend and made books and education available for free,” Dass said.

He took a dig at the Opposition, alleging that large-scale corruption had take place during the Congress regime.

“Huge sums of money meant for various schemes, including the Indira Awas Yojana, were embezzled when the Congress was in power,” Dass said.

Asked about the resurgence of the Ulfa (Independent) in Assam, he said, “Few people might have joined the outfit but everything is under control.”

Former minister Kabindra Purkayastha, Assam BJP spokesperson Rajdeep Roy and Cachar BJP president Kaushik Rai were also present at the news conference.

Karimganj South Congress MLA Kamalakhya Dey Purkayastha told The Telegraph that the BJP would get its reply on December 12, when the poll results are declared.

“Ulfa (I) has certainly gained some force once again and the state government should be blamed for this,” he said.

Sadhan Purkayastha, general secretary of the Citizens’ Rights Protection Co-Ordination Committee, demanded that the deadline for filing of claims be extended by two months.