Trinamool Congress members in the Lok Sabha on Thursday alleged a conspiracy to drive out Bengali-speaking population from Assam , a charge rejected by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh.
Trinamool member Saugata Roy raised the issue as soon as the zero hour began, pointing out that names of 1.3 crore people out of 3.29 crore population of the State were absent in the first draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which aims at identifying illegal immigrants.
“We fear this is a conspiracy to drive out Bengali-speaking people from Assam,” Mr. Roy said.
He said even the name of member of Parliament Badruddin Ajmal was absent from the first draft.
Responding, the Home Minister said the NCR work was going on under the supervision of the Supreme Court and there was no need for anyone to feel concerned.
“Those whose names have been left out can approach a tribunal. It is a baseless allegation that some people are being driven out,” Mr. Singh said.
Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal has said all those excluded in the first National Register of Citizens draft should not worry as no one will be discriminated against on the basis of caste or community.
(With PTI inputs)
