6 applicants have received Indian citizenship in Assam under the Citizenship Amendment Act. Since the Act came into effect, a total of 70 people have applied for citizenship in the state so far.
On Monday, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, who holds the Home and Political portfolio, provided this information during the Question Hour in the Assam Legislative Assembly. The Chief Minister revealed these figures in a written reply to a question raised by AGP MLA Diptimoyee Choudhury.
According to the written reply, 1,72,673 foreigners have been identified in the state under the Assam Accord so far. Of these, 31,789 foreigners have been deported till 30th June this year.
Additionally, 73,759 foreigners-related cases are currently pending in Foreigners Tribunals. The Chief Minister also informed in his written reply that 174 identified foreigners are currently housed in the Matia Transit Camp in Goalpara district.
Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma further mentioned in the written reply that the state government has spent Rs 1 crore 86 lakh 15 thousand 642 so far for setting up the Matia Transit Camp.
It is worth mentioning that until November last year, around 40 applications were filed under the Citizenship Amendment Act, but only three people had received citizenship by then. Later, with citizenship granted to three more applicants from Barak Valley, the number of people who received citizenship under this Act in the state rose to 6.
In March this year, a woman from Cachar district came into special focus after receiving Indian citizenship under CAA. Earlier, the Foreigners Tribunal had declared her a foreigner and she had to spend nearly two years in a detention centre. She was later recognised as the first person in Assam to receive Indian citizenship under CAA.
