Stressing that the first complete draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) is not the final list, Home Minister Rajnath Singh urged the opposition not to politicise the matter.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha on Monday in the ongoing Monsoon session of Parliament, Singh said that the demand for NRC has been raised by the people of Assam for a long time and that previous governments, too, have taken note of it.

Singh said that the government has no hand in the NRC.

“The government has no hand in this. Everything is being done under the supervision of Supreme Court,” said Singh during Zero Hour.

The senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader said, “This is a very sensitive issue. Everyone should lend their support. To call the government brutal and inhuman over the issue are simply levelling of baseless allegations.”

“Such sensitive issues should not be unnecessarily politicised,” he added.

“Some people are unnecessarily trying to create an atmosphere of fear. I want to assure all that there is no need for any apprehension or fear. Some misinformation is also being spread. NRC process has been done impartially,” said the Home Minister.

The Union Minister said that those whose names do not appear in the draft list published in Assam today in the morning can file their claims and objections as per provision in law.

“Only after the disposal of claims and objections, the Final NRC will be published,” Singh told the House.

“I want to emphatically say that this is only a draft and not the Final NRC,” he stressed adding that those who have not been able to submit necessary documents will get full opportunity through Claims and Objections process.

“I want to clarify that even after the Final NRC, every person will get an opportunity to approach the Foreigners Tribunal,” Singh added ruling out allegations of coercive action.

“There is no question of any coercive action against anyone,” Singh stated.

The much-awaited second and final draft of Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC) was released online and in all the NRC Sewa Kendras (NSK) across the state at 10 am on Monday.

Names of around 40 lakh people are not there in the list, the officials informed the media.

“A total of 2,89,83,677 out of 3.29 crore applicants are eligible,” Registrar General Sailesh said.

Read More: Assam releases second draft of NRC, nearly 40 lakh names missing

According to the official, the NRC features the names, addresses and photographs of all Indian citizens, who have been residing in the northeastern state before 25 March 1971.

Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal had held a high-level meeting recently on the NRC draft release and directed the officers to remain alert and help and explain the process of claims and objections to people whose names do not appear in the draft.

On Sunday, Sonowal tweeted that no Indian citizen will be left out of the list and urged people not to give in to communal statements.

“I reiterate that no genuine Indian citizen will be devoid of their citizenship rights. So no one should panic after publication of the final draft of NRC. I also urge people not to make any communal statements and remain watchful against falling prey to rumours,” he said.

I reiterate that no genuine Indian citizen will be devoid of their citizenship rights. So no one should panic after publication of the final draft of NRC. I also urge people not to make any communal statements and remain watchful against falling prey to rumours.

— Sarbananda Sonowal (@sarbanandsonwal) July 29, 2018

The first draft of the ongoing NRC process was released at the midnight of 31 December 2017. It comprised 1.9 crore names out of the total application of 3.29 crore people in Assam.