By CJP Team

The North-Eastern state of Assam is, at present, grappling with two main problems: flooding and flood induced displacement, and the issue of those being deemed “outsiders” in their own country. Following the National Register of Citizens (NRC) update, numerous cases have been filed before the Foreigner Tribunal (FT), and a variety of government efforts have allegedly been implemented to address the issue of “illegal migration.” One point that still has to be addressed as we go through this process of questioning individuals and requiring them to provide proof of their nationality is if the entire controversy surrounding the presence of “Bangladeshis” in Assam is being created by the state. Is a broken system causing us to create an “outsider” within India?

Large numbers of vulnerable individuals, especially members of linguistic minorities, such as Bengalis, and religious minorities like Muslims, are being targeted by the state government and put under scrutiny. In most cases, cases are initiated against people belonging to minority communities without any justified doubt, as was highlighted by the Supreme Court in its recent judgement. The Tribunals and Courts have also come under fire for declaring individuals as foreigners for minor discrepancies in their documents. Through the efforts put in by the team of Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), these disenfranchised people in Assam have been provided support in their continuous fight to be recognised as nationals of India and attain their right to citizenship. One such victim was Jamila Khatoon, a woman who born and raised in Assam. Even as she possessed all the required documentation to prove her citizenship, she was abused, hounded, and entangled in the web of illegal estrangement under the guise of having to prove her Indian nationality. Despite her legitimate claims, she was accused of being a foreigner. However, with CJP’s intervention, Jamila finally received justice, and her citizenship was affirmed.

Every week, CJP’s dedicated team in Assam, comprising community volunteers, district volunteer motivators, and lawyers, provides vital paralegal support, counseling, and legal aid to many affected by the citizenship crisis in over 24 districts in Assam.  Through our hands-on approach, 12,00,000 people successfully submitted completed NRC forms (2017-2019). We fight Foreigner Tribunal cases monthly at the district level.  Through these concerted efforts, we have achieved an impressive success rate of 20 cases annually, with individuals successfully obtaining their Indian citizenship. This ground level data ensures informed interventions by CJP in our Constitutional Courts. Your support fuels this crucial work. Stand with us for Equal Rights for All #HelpCJPHelpAssam. Donate NOW!

This story was originally published in cjp.org.in. Read the full story here.