Assam Chief Secretary Considering Formation of Empowered Committee to Address Gorkhas' NRC Woes

Guwahati 21 September, 2019:

Assam Chief Secretary Alok Kumar said that the Government of Assam will take into consideration the suggestion of forming an empowered committee to address the National Register of Citizens (NRC) woes of Gorkhas.

Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh delegation, led by Nanda Kirati Dewan, National Secretary BGP and Lakpa Lama apprised the Chief Secretary Alok Kumar about Gorkhas being left out of NRC. He was also informed about the arbitrary marking of Gorkhas as 'D-Voter' in Electoral Rolls.

Informing about the meeting Nanda Kirati Dewan, National Secretary of Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangha said, "Order of the FT Monitoring Cell of Gauhati High Court in Case No. I. A. (Civil) 4322/2018 on 20-12-2018 directing Government of Assam to file a fresh writ petition in Gauhati High Court seeking permission to withdraw cases against Gorkhas in Foreigners' Tribunals following MHA Clarification on Gorkha D Voters was thoroughly discussed with a request to form the Empowered Committee as suggested by Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangha (BGP) at District and Sub Divisional/Circles to dispose of such cases."

The Chief Secretary said that an empowered committee will be formed in order to dispose off cases if it comes in the ambit of NRC guidelines. In case of conflicts , legal opinion will be sought from experts.

Also Read:NRC not Needed in Bengal: Mamata Banerjee to Amit Shah

The administrative head also assured that no genuine Indian Gorkhas would be left out of the NRC.

The Guwahati High Court had directed the state government represented by Commissioner & Secretary (Home, Political Affairs, Passports & Borders) to file a fresh writ petition before appropriate bench in order to legally implement the MHA Notification BB/PK/SS Release Id 1549227 issued on 10th October 2018 by Press Information Bureau.

However, more than seven months have passed and the Assam Government is yet to file a fresh case in the Gauhati High Court. This has jeopardized the cases of thousands of Gorkhas who seek redressal in getting their names removed from the list of D-Voters and from the FT.

NE Zone Secretary BGP Lakpa Lama said, "We urged Chief Secretary to take appropriate measures so that a fresh case is filed at the earliest in the Gauhati High Court and Gorkhas are delivered justice."

The delegation urged the Chief Secretary to implement Ministry of Home Affairs (Foreigners Division), Government of India written to Chief Secretary , Govt of Assam Letter No. 25022/74/2010 F. I. dated on 24th Sept 2018 with copies to Director General of Police, Government of Assam, Registrar General of India and Joint Secretary (North East), MHA regarding Gorkha cases referred for trial at Foreigners Tribunals with a request to expedite action. BGP requested his office to send written communication to Deputy Commissioners of All Districts, Director General of Police, Assam and all Appropriate Authorities of the Government to validate the MHA Communication.

The delegation was attended by Assam State Vice President Amar Adhikari and Dr. Dilip Chhetri, Bharatiya Gorkha Yuva Parisangha (BhaGoYuP) General Secretary (Org) Ramesh Bastola, Assam BhaGoYuP Secretary Suk Maya Lama and Dima Hasao BGP president Laxman Chhetry.

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