Sahitya Akademi awardee Durga Khatiwada, family of Assam Agitation martyr excluded from NRC

Dispur: Sahitya Akademi awardee and President of Assam Nepali Sahitya Sabha Durga Khatiwada's name along with the family members of Baijyanti Devi, the first woman martyr of Assam Agitation, have been excluded from the complete draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

Making the announcement the organisation of the Gorkhas said that Manju Devi, the great-granddaughter of freedom fighter Chabilal Upadhyay, was also excluded from the NRC draft.

Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BhaGoPa) National Secretary Nanda Kirati Dewan said that the NRC process has disrespected the Gorkha community and added that the matter will be taken to court if the issue is not resolved.

“Families of freedom fighters and martyrs of Assam Agitation have been disrespected by excluding them from NRC. This is not only disrespect to the Gorkhas, but also an insult to the freedom fighters and martyrs,” PTI quoted Dewan as saying.

The Assam Agitation over identification and deportation of illegal immigrants was launched by the All Assam Students Union in 1979. It led to the signing of the Assam Accord on August 15, 1985, in Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi’s presence.

Dewan said that Khatiwada had 1951 NRC of his father as a legacy and although names of all his family members' were included in the NRC, he was excluded from the draft.

Baijyanti Devi's father Amar Upadhyay told PTI that name of his grandsons Rohitakash and Mihiran along with their mother Nirmala Devi was not listed in the NRC.

He further said that Manju Devi, the great-granddaughter of freedom fighter Chabilal Upadhyay, who founded Congress party in Assam, was also excluded.

The Foreigners' Tribunal has so far not issued any notice to Manju Devi in this matter due which her fate hangs in limbo.

Asked about their future course of action, Dewan said, certified copies will be sought from the competent authorities to ascertain the reasons of the exclusions.

Dewan said that the matter will be taken to court as the BhaGoPa is one of the parties in the Supreme Court on the NRC hearing case.

Calling it a blot on Assam Movement that the family of its first woman martyr was excluded due to doubts over their nationality BhaGoPa state general secretary Prakash Dahal said that the issue needs to be resolved on or before the final NRC is published.

The NRC updation exercise is being monitored by the Supreme Court to identify illegal immigrants in the state which witnessed unprecedented influx of people from Bangladesh since the early 20th century.

https://www.timesnownews.com/