MHA to probe allegations against functioning of Foreigners’ Tribunals in Assam

The arbitrary manner in which Foreigners’ Tribunals are declaring people ‘foreigners’ in Assam has not gone unnoticed by international human rights agencies like the UN. Also given how lakhs of Bengali Hindus who the BJP hopes to cultivate into a loyal vote bank have been excluded from the National Register of Citizens (NRC) final draft published on July 30, the government has been forced to act.

Foreigners Tribunal

In a Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) communication on September 10, 2018, AK Pandey, Joint Director, MHA has advised Pramod Kumar, Director (Foreigners), MHA, that Gautam Kumar, Under Secretary, Rajya Sabha Secretariat had forwarded representation from Advocate AK Talukdar. Talukdar who is the President of the Nagrik Adhikar Suraksha Manch, had in a letter dated August 6, 2018 drawn attention to the plight of members of the Bengali community who were genuine Indian citizens, but allegedly facing harassment and being declared ‘foreigners’. This representation was forwarded to Kumar for further action as the Foreigner’s Division was dealing with it. Written by Sabrang India | Published on: September 29, 2018