NRC: No need to panic both central and State government is with the people: Kabindra Purkayastha

September 16, 2018 Kabindra Purkayastha led a delegation consisting of senior BJP politicians from Barak Valley in a meeting with the Minister of Home Affairs Rajnath Singh. At the end of the meeting speaking to barak bulletin former Union Minister said that home minister heard the concerns of the people of Barak Valley and assured that the government-both centre and state will submit an affidavit to the Supreme Court of India requesting to not eliminate 5 out of the 15 documents that state coordinator Prateek Hajela proposed.

At the end of the meeting Purkayastha said he left with optimism and defined the meeting as productive. Just couple of days later Supreme Court agreed to go by the state coordinator Prateek hajela and decided to keep the 5 documents out of recognition till further notice.

So, was the meeting a complete failure? Not really says Purkayastha. He adds, there is no need to panic the government is there with the people. He pointed towards the citizenship ammendment bill 2016 as a aid “It’s very much there and government will try and pass it in the next session of parliament” in an exclusive interview with Barack Bulletin the former Union Minister also said it’s not yet complete complete door-shut on the five documents as court will hear the case again on October 23rd. Here are the edited excerpts:

Three days back you termed the meeting as productive today this judgement from the court do you now feel the meeting s a waste of time?

Not at all government both state and centre did their job. They submitted affidavits requesting the Court to not disqualify the 5 documents as proposed bye Prateek hajela. Please try and understand, the supreme court does not come under the Government of India or any other government it followed its procedure and announced the judgement. I respect it wholeheartedly as far as our meeting is concerned NRC was not the only thing we discussed, Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 is another major aspect of our meetings and we are still discussing them so by no means the meeting was a waste.

After your meeting with the Home Minister people of Barak Valley had hopes that the five documents will not be disqualified they are shattered today…

We all need to understand this is not it for the 5 documents the court will again hear the case on October 23 2018.

What if the court permanently disqualifies the five document as per Prateek Hajela’s proposal?

Even if the apex court permanently disqualifies the 5 documents there is no reason to panic. People are reading this News or newspapers and watching on television and panicking there is absolutely no need for that. The state government as well as the centre is with the people.

What is the way out from here for the people Navin No Man’s Land?

Citizenship Amendment Bill 2016 if passed will bring an end all these concerns. The government time and again in various meetings assured us that the bill will be on the floor in the next session and I believe the bill will get passed bringing a permanent end to all the problems.

Please note: Kabindra Purkayastha’s interview with us was in Bengali and this is a translated version based on our interpretation and not his exact words.