Over seven lakh Muslims remain excluded from NRC, highlighting ongoing religious bias and injustice
GUWAHATI — The Assam government’s recent decision to withdraw all citizenship-related cases against non-Muslim communities has stirred significant controversy and protests across the state. The order, issued under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), applies to Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Parsis who entered Assam on or before 31 December 2014. However, this move has left Muslim communities excluded and facing continued hardship under the National Register of Citizens (NRC) system.
The decision came following a high-level meeting on 8 July, convened by the state’s Home and Political Affairs departments, to discuss the impact of CAA on pending foreigner tribunal cases. The meeting was held after a directive from Assam’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sarma.
According to official sources, the government has instructed tribunals to stop proceeding with cases involving members of the six protected communities and to review all pending cases immediately. Reports on the progress of this action are to be submitted regularly.
A government official said, “We have taken this step to comply with the provisions of CAA, and to ease the legal burden on communities that are eligible for citizenship under the Act.” The state has also encouraged eligible applicants, including Gorkhas and other recognised communities, to apply for Indian citizenship without delay.
However, critics argue that this selective approach deepens divisions and violates the Assam Accord of 1985, which clearly states that anyone entering Assam after 24 March 1971, regardless of religion, should be treated equally as refugees. Human rights activists claim that by withdrawing cases only against non-Muslims, the state is sidelining Muslim residents who were excluded from the NRC.
A local activist, Farhan Ahmed, expressed his concern: “Nearly seven lakh Muslims were left out of the NRC in 2018, and they continue to suffer without legal recognition or protection. This decision ignores their rights and continues the long history of discrimination against Muslims in Assam.”
The NRC, last updated in August 2018, was intended to identify illegal immigrants in the state. However, it excluded more than 19 lakh people, including both Hindus and Muslims. Chief Minister Sarma previously acknowledged that over five lakh Bengali Hindus, two lakh Assamese Hindus, and around 1.5 lakh Gorkhas were left out of the NRC list. Notably, about seven lakh Muslims were also excluded.
The ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) maintains that excluded Hindus can seek citizenship under the CAA, but Muslims cannot benefit from this law. This policy has raised serious concerns over religious discrimination and social division.
Imran Hussain, a local resident from Barpeta, shared his frustration: “The government’s actions clearly favour non-Muslims while Muslim families continue to live in fear of losing their rights and homes. Citizenship should not be a matter of religion but a right for all who live here.”
Opposition leaders have condemned the government’s move. Priya Das, a spokesperson for a regional political party, said, “This decision undermines the unity of Assam and violates the principles of justice. Citizenship rights cannot be selectively granted based on religion. The government must protect all communities equally.”
The Assam government now faces mounting pressure to reconsider its policies and work towards an inclusive approach that recognises the rights of all residents, including the Muslim population that forms a significant part of the state’s social fabric.
