People rejected by Assam NRC continue to face Aadhaar hurdle

AIUDF seeks end to ordeal of 26.57 lakh people unable to acquire Aadhaar cards after NRC exercise in Assam.

The All India United Democratic Front (AIUDF) on February 7 sought an end to the ordeal of more than 26.57 lakh people who have been unable to acquire Aadhaar cards after their biometrics were frozen during the exercise to update the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.

A total of 26,57,784 people were rejected in two NRC drafts published on December 31, 2017, and July 30, 2018, for failing to produce documentsthat could have established their citizenship.

Some 7.51 lakh of them were included in the complete draft published on August 31, 2019, following the claims and objections phase of the NRC. However, their biometrics along with those of the 19.06 lakh who could not make it to the citizenship list continued to remain frozen.

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“These 26.57 lakh people have been unable to apply for government or private sector jobs and acquire ration cards, voter cards, and other documents for which an Aadhaar number is mandatory. They have been deprived of their rights for no fault of theirs,” AIUDF legislator Aminul Islam said in the 126-member Assembly.

“The Centre, Assam government, and the Registrar General of India (RGI) should soon take steps to unlock the biometrics of these hapless people,” he said.

He pointed out that the NRC exercise worth more than Rs 1,600 crore has been in limbo despite 56,000 officials having worked on it for six years. “Let the NRC take its course, but the Aadhaar hurdle for the 26.57 lakh people must end,” he said.