NRC: Assam BJP seeks extension of 1 month for objections
Guwahati, Aug 6: The Assam unit of the BJP has appealed to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh to extend by one month the time fixed for filing objections to the published draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led Assam government on July 30, published the complete draft of the NRC which included the names of 2,89,83,677 out of a total of 3,29,91,384 applicants.
The draft excluded 40,07,707 applicants' names due to some discrepancies.
"We believe that not a single foreigner's name should be included in the final NRC.
"At the same time, names of not a single genuine Indian citizen should be excluded from the final NRC.
"The figure of 40,07,707 is a huge one and hence we believe that there should be more time given to file claims and objections so that all genuine cases are included in the document," said BJP Vice President (Assam unit) Majoj Ram Phukan.
A memorandum has been sent to Rajnath Singh in this regard.
Phukan also said that the draft NRC included names of some declared foreigners and appealed to the Home Minister to take appropriate action so that those could be corrected in the final NRC.
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CPI(M) rebel Kunhikrishnan hopes for 5,000-vote win in Payyanur
Kannur (Kerala) (PTI): CPI(M) rebel candidate V Kunhikrishnan, who contested as a UDF-backed Independent from Payyanur here, on Saturday said he was hoping to win the Assembly election by a margin of 5,000 votes.
Kunhikrishnan was expelled from the CPI(M) earlier this year after raising allegations of corruption in the party’s martyrs’ fund against sitting MLA T I Madhusoodanan.
Speaking to a TV channel, Kunhikrishnan said he had announced his candidature as a mark of protest and not with expectations of victory.
However, he said the situation had changed drastically, with a strong undercurrent within CPI(M) votes favouring him.
"The undercurrent in CPI(M) votes cannot be measured. Now people are giving a response indicating victory with a margin of at least 5,000 votes," he said.
Payyanur is considered a CPI(M) stronghold, and a defeat for Madhusoodanan there would be a major setback for the party.
On political violence in Payyanur, Kunhikrishnan said he had been facing it since filing his nomination.
"The people leading this violence should think about how long they can continue it. It is the police which has to take the initiative to stop this violence as part of maintaining law and order. But the police are not intervening at the required level," he said.
Regarding his political future, Kunhikrishnan said efforts were underway to strengthen Left groups, and discussions were being held across Kerala in that regard.
"After discussing with others, a decision will be taken," he said.
Kunhikrishnan is among six former CPI(M) leaders who either exited the party or were suspended before contesting for the UDF in the April 9 Assembly elections.
Elections to the 140-seat Kerala Assembly were held on April 9, and the counting of votes will be held on May 4.
