Assam CM Reveals More Than 1.59 Lakh Declared 'Foreigners' and 'Doubtful' Voters

Defense News ,India :- Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma disclosed alarming statistics, stating that over 1.59 lakh individuals have been designated as 'foreigners' in the state, while an additional 96,000 have been identified as 'Doubtful' (D) voters. Responding to questions from opposition AIUDF legislator Aminul Islam in the assembly, Sarma outlined the current status of the citizenship issue in Assam.

Sarma highlighted that the state operates 100 Foreigners' Tribunals (FTs) to address the concerns of D-voters, and as of December 31, 2023, these tribunals have declared 1,59,353 people as foreigners. He further revealed that the FTs have resolved 3,37,186 cases by the end of the previous year, leaving 96,149 cases pending across various tribunals.

In response to queries from Congress MLA Sherman Ali Ahmed, Sarma shared that the state currently has 96,987 D-voters. The Chief Minister addressed concerns regarding residents without Aadhaar cards due to the National Register of Citizens (NRC) updating process. He informed the assembly that discussions with the central government are underway to provide relief to approximately 2.7 million residents facing difficulties obtaining Aadhaar cards due to biometric locking during the NRC updating process.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed optimism about positive outcomes from the ongoing consultations with the central government. However, he emphasized the need to adhere to Supreme Court orders and acknowledged the possibility of approaching the court if required to address the issue. The Chief Minister's revelations shed light on the complex challenges posed by citizenship and documentation issues in the state of Assam.