Distinguished Professor Ali Riaz has published a commentary on the recently released final list of the National Registry of Citizens (NRC) in the northeastern state of Assam of India.
The list has excluded 1.9 million residents of the state who are now in the risk of becoming ‘stateless citizens.’ Criticizing the move in the commentary titled “NRC in Assam: What Happened? What’s Next?” Riaz insists that the implication of this exercise will not be limited to Assam, instead religiously informed identity will become the essential part of being Indians. He further noted, what is most likely to happen in the coming months is the enactment of the Citizenship (amendment) Bill. The implication of this requires no elaboration—religion as the principal marker of Indian citizenship will be enshrined in the constitution, forever.
The commentary is published in the Daily Star.
