Assam CM Claims Mamata Spreading NRC Fear for Political Gain

Quick Summary:

• Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma criticized West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee for “scaring Bengali voters” about the NRC ahead of West Bengal’s 2026 Assembly elections.
• Mr. Sarma dismissed concerns over the NRC as baseless, stating that no official directives related to the NRC have been issued.
• Ms. Banerjee flagged issues with “NRC notices” from Foreigners’ Tribunals (FTs) in Assam, including for long-term residents like Uttam Kumar Brajabasi.
• Mr. Sarma clarified that such notices are part of judicial processes and not government targeting.
• The Assam government has decided to drop FT cases involving Koch-Rajbanshi and gurkha communities but denied making broader decisions regarding other non-Muslim migrants from Afghanistan,Bangladesh,and Pakistan before 2015 under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA).
• Eight people in Assam had applied for citizenship under the CAA as of July 15; only two progressed to interviews so far.
• An updated NRC list in assam published in August 2019 excluded over 19 lakh individuals out of approximately 3.3 crore applications.

Indian Opinion Analysis:

The debate surrounding NRC and FTs continues to generate political discussions across state lines as assembly elections approach. While Mamata Banerjee raises concerns about implications on bengali populations based on recent tribunal notices, Himanta Biswa Sarma dismisses these fears as election-driven strategies without legal foundation currently tied to an ongoing process. Such cross-border narratives reflect how identity and citizenship issues become interwoven with electoral politics.

The clarification around koch-Rajbanshi and Gurkha judicial exemptions indicates targeted policy decisions but underscores unresolved ambiguities regarding broader submission under CAA provisions pending Supreme Court resolution-a focal point for legal challenges nationwide.

With minimal progress reported on CAA applications as its implementation, questions may arise about administrative clarity or public hesitancy amongst eligible populations. The upcoming legislative developments could further shed light on how this issue impacts national unity while resonating deeply at local levels amid community-specific stakes.

Link Read more: The Hindu