Rights group fear 4M of being deemed stateless in India

By Ahmad Adil

NEW DELHI (AA) – A human rights group is raising concerns Monday after the Indian government issued a list excluding more than 4 million people in the northeastern state of Assam – a move that could render them stateless.

Authorities published a draft known as the National Register of Citizens (NRC) on Monday. According to the list, 2.9 crore (29 million) people have been added to the NRC, of 3.9 crore (39 million) applicants, thus excluding 4 million people.

“Amnesty International India is concerned that the NRC process in Assam may render a significant number of people stateless,” said the group country’s program manager Arijit Sen.

“It is possible that the process will arbitrarily deprive people, who have lived in India for decades, of their nationality,” he said in a statement. “Care should be taken to ensure that families are not torn apart, and appropriate legal aid should be provided to those who are at risk of losing their nationality.”

The fate of those who may lose their nationality, as a consequence of this process, is unclear, said Sen.

“India does not even have an agreement with other countries, particularly Bangladesh, on deportation. It is crucial that the government make public their plan for dealing with those at risk of being rendered stateless and ensure that their rights are not violated,” he said.

Those excluded from the list fear they would be stripped off their citizenship. The process of filing objections would begin Aug. 30 and continue until Sept. 30, said officials.

“This is only a draft and not the final NRC,” said Home Minister Rajnath Singh.