The Stream

#AssamNRC: Who is truly Indian?

As controversial registry could leave 4 million people in India stateless, we ask why.

The citizenship of four million people in India’s Assam region is in limbo after their names were left off a recent draft of the country’s National Register of Citizens (NRC). The final list will be announced in December.

Supporters of the registry say it will help identify illegal immigrants who cross India’s porous border with Bangladesh. But opponents say the list is politically motivated and a thinly-veiled attempt by the ruling  Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to maintain a Hindu majority in the state. Muslims make up one-third of Assam’s population.

The list has sparked fears of mass deportations and left many questioning what constitutes citizenship.

On this episode of The Stream we’ll dive into the controversy with a panel of experts. 

On this episode of The Stream, we speak with:

 

Rana Ayyub, @RanaAyyub

Journalist and writer

 

Samujjal Bhattacharya 

Chief Advisor and Spokesperson for the All Assam Students Union

 

Amlan Das, @iamamlan  

Assamese Resident and Blogger

 

Pawan Khera, @Pawankhera

Spokesman, Indian National Congress Party

 

 

Read more:
What’s next for the 4 million stripped of citizenship in India? – Al Jazeera English 
I’m Assamese and here’s why NRC is critical to our identity – The Quint 

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