Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has reignited the citizenship debate by stating that individuals identified as foreigners will be deported, regardless of their inclusion in the National Register of Citizens (NRC). His remark has added new fuel to the long-standing debate over identity, citizenship, and security in the state.
The statement directly addresses rising confusion among residents and legal experts on whether NRC status guarantees immunity from deportation. Sarma’s stance makes it clear that the Assam foreigners deportation process will not depend solely on NRC entries.
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CM Says NRC Is Not Final Authority
Sarma clarified that NRC is not the sole basis for determining a person’s citizenship. “If someone is declared a foreigner by a Foreigners’ Tribunal, they will be deported—even if they are listed in the NRC,” the CM said during a press meet in Guwahati.
He also emphasized that the final decision on a person’s nationality lies with the Foreigners’ Tribunals and the judicial system. The Assam foreigners deportation drive, according to Sarma, is based on tribunal rulings, not documentation alone.
NRC Still Pending Government Review
The updated NRC, published in 2019, excluded over 19 lakh individuals. However, the Assam government has not accepted it as final. The registry remains stuck in legal and procedural hurdles, awaiting notification by the Registrar General of India (RGI).
With this ambiguity, Sarma’s remarks seem aimed at reinforcing the state’s authority to act beyond the NRC framework. He reiterated that illegal migrants will be identified and deported through established legal processes.
Opposition and Rights Groups React
Political opposition leaders called the statement “legally questionable” and accused the CM of undermining the NRC process. Human rights groups also expressed concern, warning that legitimate citizens could face wrongful deportation.
Still, Sarma stood firm on the government’s position, stating that Assam must protect its demographic and cultural integrity. The Assam foreigners deportation policy, he argued, is part of a larger national interest.
Deportation Process to Be Stepped Up
The Assam government has been increasing pressure on central authorities to speed up deportation procedures with countries like Bangladesh. State officials have confirmed that detention centers remain functional and ready to accommodate tribunal-declared foreigners.
Meanwhile, local police and border units have been instructed to strengthen verification drives in vulnerable regions. Authorities plan to file fresh cases in tribunals wherever they suspect false documentation.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s firm declaration that NRC inclusion will not shield foreigners from deportation has added clarity—and controversy—to Assam’s migration policy. The Assam foreigners deportation issue is once again at the forefront of political and legal debates, with far-reaching implications for the state’s identity and governance.
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