Opposition parties urge President to intervene in NRC issue
New Delhi, Aug 9 : A delegation of opposition parties on Thursday met President Ram Nath Kovind and urged him to ensure that no Indian citizen is left out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam.
In a memorandum submitted to the President, the opposition parties accused the BJP-led Central government of "deliberately attempting to undermine the nation's democratic and secular values".
"The aftermath of the NRC 2018 is one example of the ruling dispensation threatening and attempting to ruin the nation's great Institutions like the Constitution, the Parliament, the judiciary and the media.
"As the custodian of these great institutions, we appeal and urge upon you to ensure that not a single Indian citizen is excluded from the NRC list in Assam," it said.
Among other leaders in the delegation were former Prime Minister and JD(S) leader H.D. Deve Gowda, Anand Sharma from Congress, Farooq Abdullah from National Conference and Ram Gopal Yadav from Samajwadi Party.
The memorandum said the NRC had resulted in the exclusion of over 40 lakh Indian citizens including Bengalis, Assamese, Rajasthanis, Marwaris, Biharis, Gorkhas, Punjabis, many tribals and Indian citizens from the four southern states who are residents of Assam for a very long time.
"This NRC list has not even spared excluding some brave soldiers, ex-Rashtrapati-Ji's families, a former Chief Minister and other elected representatives, prominent members of civil society as well as the poor and marginalised," it said.
"Serious anomalies in the preparation of the list have torn several families apart, destroying our social fabric," it added.
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Will Champai Soren become a game-changer for BJP in Jharkhand polls?
Ranchi: Champai Soren, a prominent figure in Jharkhand’s statehood movement, is contesting the 2024 assembly elections from Seraikela, a seat he has consistently held since 1991.
However, there is a surprising shift in his political journey this year. Having resigned from the Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM) earlier this year, Soren is now representing the BJP, a move that could significantly impact the electoral dynamics in the state.
Soren’s switiching is seen as a strategic benefit for the saffron party, which has been working to expand its appeal among Jharkhand’s tribal communities, a demographic traditionally aligned with the JMM. His departure from the JMM, led by Shibu Soren and his son Hemant Soren, was fueled by dissatisfaction with the state government’s policies, which he claimed had failed to address tribal concerns.
Also known as "Jharkhand’s Tiger" for his instrumental role in the statehood movement of the 1990s, Champai Soren has respect and influence among tribal voters. His decision to switch the party could be a turning point in the BJP’s efforts to gain a stronger hold in a state where tribal votes often decide the outcome.
