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New Delhi: With five days to go for the publication of the final draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, the Union home ministry on Wednesday asked the Assam government and its neighbouring states to ensure maintenance of law and order.
The NRC is being updated only in Assam to solve its long-pending problem of "foreigners".
In a statement, the ministry said Dispur had been advised to set up a state-level committee under the chairmanship of the chief secretary to ensure coordination among state agencies, central agencies and NRC authorities.
"Round-the-clock control rooms in the state capital and in the district headquarters are to be activated to receive complaints and coordinate prompt response," it said.
"The Registrar-General of India has been asked to use all means of communication, including websites, toll-free numbers and SMS, to inform the public about the draft NRC. An intensive public awareness campaign has been launched to disseminate information about the NRC process, options available for individuals whose names do not figure in the draft NRC and the procedure and timeline for filing claims and objections, in order to address the concerns of the people left out of the draft list," it said.
The ministry advised the Assam government that no action should be initiated by the administration or the police based on the draft NRC. There is no question of referring the persons whose names do not figure in the draft NRC to Foreigners Tribunals as people are entitled to file claims and objections before the final publication of the NRC. The question of referring any person to a detention centre also does not arise. The state government has been asked to issue clear instructions to all administrative and police functionaries.
Union home minister Rajnath Singh had said every person would get justice and be treated in a humane manner. All individuals would get sufficient opportunities to avail of legal remedies and get adequate opportunities to file claims and objections.