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NRC Biometrics Concerns Gorkhas: Parisangh Demands Release of Locked Biometrics Data

By AT News |

The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh (BGP) Assam State 2023-2026 Silver Jubilee Committee was sworn in on Sunday at the Moni Kumar Subba Bhawan in Guwahati, with 51 members elected to the committee. The committee is led by President Amar Adhikari from Guwahati, Working President Mohan Lal Sharma from Tinsukia, and Secretary General Nanda Kirati Dewan from Golaghat. In a congratulatory speech, chairman of Gorkha Development Council (GDC), Government of Assam, Prem Tamang appreciated the work of the Parisangh nationally and activities of Assam state.

The first Extended Executive Meeting resolved to take up the issue of NRC blocked biometrics. According to Nanda Kirati Dewan, Secretary General, Assam State Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, the biometrics held by the NRC authorities have deprived common people of basic fundamental rights, including families below the poverty line. Rural Final Inclusion initiative and Direct Benefits Transfer (DBF) schemes of the Government of India and Government of Assam have been affected, causing serious banking KYC and other documentation concerns. The executive also resolved to work on the "Teok Ouguri Declaration" adopted at the 6th Trinnenial State Conference of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh.

Dewan stressed that the Government of Assam and NRC Authority should file an interlocutory application (IA) before the Supreme Court of India with respect to the biometrics issues of almost 28 lakh people, including nearly 1 lakh Gorkhas. Dewan appealed to the government to adopt immediate measures at the earliest possible.

If the government remains reluctant, the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh will explore legal options before the Supreme Court for ensuring basic fundamental rights on constitutional grounds. Outgoing Secretary General Bimal Pradhan, who has been appointed National General Secretary (Organisation), anchored the ceremony, and outgoing President Prakash Dahal presided over the event. The first Extended Executive Meeting held under the presidentship of Amar Adhikari unanimously extended a vote of thanks and gratitude to the outgoing team and recommended inducting Prakash Dahal as Joint Secretary General in the national committee at the forthcoming National Executive Meet (NEM) and 23rd Foundation Day to be held at Siliguri, North Bengal, on 5th and 6th April 2023, to be hosted by Siliguri Divisional Committee BGP.

The Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh is a national social organization that represents the Gorkha community across India. The newly elected committee in Assam State is tasked with ensuring that the interests and rights of the Gorkha community are protected in the state.

One of the main concerns raised by the Parisangh is the issue of blocked biometrics data. According to Nanda Kirati Dewan, the Secretary General of the Assam State Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh, biometrics data held by the NRC authorities has deprived common people of their basic fundamental rights. Families below the poverty line have been stripped of essentials from the Public Distribution Schemes (PDS), Fair Price Shops (FPS), and other government schemes.

The Parisangh has demanded that the government of Assam and the NRC Authority file an interlocutory application (IA) before the Supreme Court of India with respect to the biometrics issue of almost 28 lakh people, including nearly 1 lakh Gorkhas. The executive committee has stressed that this issue needs to be addressed urgently, and they will explore legal options before the Supreme Court if the government remains reluctant.

Apart from the issue of blocked biometrics, the Parisangh has also resolved to work on the 'Teok Ouguri Declaration' adopted at the 6th Trinnenial State Conference of the Bharatiya Gorkha Parisangh held on 4th and 5th February 2023. The committee has also extended their vote of thanks and gratitude to the outgoing team and recommended the induction of Prakash Dahal as Joint Secretary General in the national committee at the forthcoming National Executive Meet (NEM) and 23rd Foundation Day to be held at Siliguri, North Bengal on 5th and 6th April 2023.

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