Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, September 8, 2024, Calcutta – Assam Chief Minister Hemant Biswa Sharma has announced stringent new measures aimed at curbing illegal infiltration into the state. This decision comes after alarming discrepancies were discovered between the number of Aadhaar card applications and the actual population in several districts.
According to Sharma, the number of Aadhaar card applications in some districts has surpassed the local population figures, raising concerns of illegal encroachment. In response, the Chief Minister has issued new guidelines stipulating that Aadhaar card applications will only be processed if accompanied by a receipt of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) application. This step is intended to address and prevent the misuse of the Aadhaar system for unauthorized residency claims.
The Chief Minister highlighted that in four districts, the number of Aadhaar applications exceeded the population figures, indicating potential illegal activity. Furthermore, it was reported that only a fraction of these applicants could produce the required NRC application receipt, suggesting an attempt to fraudulently obtain citizenship through the Aadhaar process.
Assam’s geographic location, bordering Bangladesh, has exacerbated the challenge of controlling illegal migration. To counteract this issue, the Assam government has been actively enforcing the Citizenship Act and NRC measures.
Additionally, anomalies have been observed in the Aadhaar registration process in Assam’s Dhubri district, where unauthorized individuals have reportedly acquired Aadhaar cards. In response to these findings, Chief Minister Sharma has decreed that Aadhaar card applications will be strictly regulated to prevent illegal access.
The new guidelines will take effect on October 1, 2024. The Assam government is committed to implementing these measures to ensure that Aadhaar cards are issued only to eligible residents, thereby strengthening the integrity of the state’s immigration controls.