Assam mandates NRC application receipt number for issuing Aadhaar

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday announced that all new applicants in the state would have to submit their National Register of Citizens (NRC) application receipt number (ARN) to get the identity card.

Addressing a press conference, Himanta said the state would issue a standard operating procedure and the new measure will be in force from October 1. The CM justified the measure saying it will stop the influx of illegal foreigners.

State to be very strict: CM

The state will be very strict in issuing Aadhaar cards. In several districts, applications for Aadhaar cards are more than the population. This raises suspicions. To address these suspicions, we have decided that new applicants will have to submit their NRC application receipt number (ARN) with the Aadhaar applications. Himanta Biswa Sarma, Assam Chief Minister

“The state will be very strict in issuing Aadhaar cards. In several districts, applications for Aadhaar cards are more than the population. This raises suspicions. To address these suspicions, we have decided that new applicants will have to submit their NRC application receipt number (ARN) with the Aadhaar applications,” Himanta said.

He said it would not be easy to secure Aadhaar cards in Assam.

“Hopefully other states will be strict in issuing Aadhaar cards too,” the CM said, adding that 9.55 lakh people whose biometrics were done during the NRC process need not submit ARN numbers.

The CM listed districts where more Aadhaar applications had been received than the projected population.

“These districts are Barpeta with 103.74 per cent deviation, Dhubri with 103 per cent and Morigaon and Nagaon with 101 per cent each,” he said.

The CM also said new Aadhaar cards in Assam would only be issued after a no objection certificate by the district commissioner.

“If the applicant has NRC ARN, it is clear he was residing in Assam before 2014. The Assam Government will intensify the process of identification of illegal foreigners now. Several Bangladeshis were apprehended over two months and handed over to the neighbouring country,” he said.