New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah will visit Assam next week to attend a meeting of the North Eastern Council and is likely to review the situation in the state in the wake of publication of the final NRC, sources said Monday here.
During the September 8-9 visit, Amit Shah will also chair a meeting of the NEC, to be attended by Chief Ministers and Governors of eight Northeastern states.
“Amit Shah is also likely to have separate meetings with Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and top functionaries of the Assam government and the state BJP leadership,” a source said.
The final National Register of Citizens (NRC) was published Saturday. According to the NRC, out of the total 3.3 crore applicants, 3.11 crore figured in the list and names of about 19 lakh people were excluded.
After the list was published, Assam Finance Minister Himant Biswa Sarma and state BJP chief Ranjit Kumar Dass said they were unhappy with the NRC as names of many genuine Indian citizens were not included.
Both Sarma and Dass said there is a possibility of government taking some legislative options to protect the rights of genuine Indians.
“Under these circumstances, the Home Minister’s visit bears significance,” another source said.
This incidentally will be Amit Shah’s first visit to Assam after becoming the Home Minister three months ago. His earlier plan to attend the NEC meeting August 3-4 was postponed, apparently due to his engagements ahead of abrogation of the special status given to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370.
During his meeting with the Chief Ministers and Governors at the NEC plenary, Shah will review and discuss with them the security situation and development issues, a Home Ministry official said. Shah will review the progress of various development issues also.
The NEC is the apex advisory body for securing balanced and coordinated development, and for facilitating effective coordination among the member states.
PTI
