Assam govt not serious about NRC: Congress

The opposition Congress today alleged the Assam government was not serious about updating the National Register of Citizens, a day after the NRC state coordinator said the deadline for the publication of the final draft "may be delayed" due to the flood situation.

As per a Supreme Court order, the second draft of the NRC has to be released by June 30.

"What we have understood is that the state coordinator of the NRC did not take the process seriously. The Assam government is also not taking it seriously despite it is done under direct supervision of the Supreme Court," Assam Pradesh Congress Committee president Ripun Bora said.

Addressing a press conference here, the Rajya Sabha member alleged the NRC state coordinator is trying to delay the publication of the NRC final draft.

"They are giving excuse about flooding to delay it. The government knew that flood was coming. Why did they not take any measure to shift the NRC sewa kendras, which are under the water in Barak Valley now," asked Bora.

NRC State Coordinator Prateek Hajela yesterday said the deadline for the publication of the final draft "may be missed" due to flooding in three districts of Barak Valley.

Talking about BJP president Amit Shah's visit to Assam yesterday, Bora said the ruling party chief did not have time to meet the flood-hit people.

"BJP's love for Assam is only in words, not in deeds. So many people have died in flood and a few lakh are suffering across the state. Why did he not visit some places? The prime minister talked about visit of one central minister in every 15 days.

"Why has no minister visited Assam since the flooding began?" the Congress leader said.

He also alleged that very little fund has come to Assam in the past two years.