Guwahati: The Supreme Court has admitted a petition filed by former Assam NRC Coordinator Hitesh Dev Sarma seeking a complete re-verification of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The move has triggered unease among many in Assam, particularly the Muslim community, who fear that the demand is politically motivated and intended to reopen wounds left by the controversial exercise.
The NRC, published in 2019, declared 31.1 million residents eligible while excluding 1.9 million. The update process was monitored by the Supreme Court and was seen as the most exhaustive citizenship verification ever conducted in the country. Despite this, Dev Sarma has argued that the NRC is riddled with errors and should be re-examined.
Observers point out that his petition comes at a sensitive time, with state elections approaching and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) actively using the narrative of “illegal immigrants” to consolidate its support base. Civil society groups argue that reopening the NRC would push already marginalized communities, particularly Bengali-speaking Muslims, into further uncertainty and harassment.
Critics also recall that Dev Sarma has long been vocal about alleged “infiltration” and is viewed as close to Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who has repeatedly demanded re-verification in border districts. Many believe that such efforts are less about correcting errors and more about altering the NRC outcome to suit political objectives.
The future of 1.9 million excluded residents remains unresolved, as rejection slips are yet to be issued. A re-verification process could extend their legal limbo indefinitely.
