Assam Government Clarifies No Special Directives for Non-Muslim Foreigners Pre-2015
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma stated that no 'special' directives have been issued for dropping cases of non-Muslim illegal foreigners entering before 2015, as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act protects them. The state cabinet has made decisions regarding specific communities, while existing regulations under the CAA remain in effect.
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In a press conference Thursday, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma firmly announced that the state government has not issued any 'special' directive concerning cases of non-Muslim illegal foreigners who entered India before 2015. According to the Chief Minister, existing regulations under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act already provide protection against punitive actions for these individuals.
Sarma clarified that unless the Supreme Court overturns it, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act remains the law, safeguarding those who arrived on or before December 31, 2014. During a recent cabinet meeting, decisions were made regarding dropping of cases from the Foreigners Tribunals for the Koch-Rajbongshi and Gorkha communities.
An accessed directive, signed by Additional Chief Secretary Ajay Tewari, instructs district commissioners and police to review the status of foreign nationals and encourage them to seek Indian citizenship under CAA rules. The Assam government had previously alerted its Border Police to avoid forwarding cases of non-Muslim illegal immigrants predating 2015 to the Foreigners Tribunals, urging instead immediate application for citizenship.
(With inputs from agencies.)
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