NEW DELHI, July 30 (Xinhua) -- Around four million residents in northeastern state of Assam have been stripped of Indian citizenship, a list released by the government revealed on Monday.
The draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) published by the federal government sparked fears that the left-out in the process would be deported.
"Whoever does not have name will get opportunity to file claim, objections under adequate time. Those left out will have the option to file online application in NRC website or visit a NRC Seva Kendra," said Shailesh, Registrar General of India.
However, in a bid to control tempers and avoid violence, government officials said people omitted from the final draft will not face immediate deportation but can file reservations and appeals for consideration
"Whatever has been done were the clear Supreme Court directions and government has no role in it," Indian Home Minister Rajnath Singh told the Indian parliament. "Someone whose name is not in the final list can approach the designated offices to get their grievances redressed. No coercive action will be taken against anyone, hence there is no need for anyone to panic,"
Most of the people left out are Bengalis - a linguistic minority in Assam.
Officials said out of the 32 million applicants (who applied in 2015), the names of 28 million have found a mention in the draft.
According to NRC, the four million applicants who did not find a place in the document have failed to submit the proof of their identity.
Analysts say majority of the left-out are Muslims who have been living for generations in Assam.
Officials said the register, which has not been updated since 1951, had to be revised, in order to identify illegal migrants from neighbor Bangladesh.
The opposition parties have described the process "motivated" and "surprising".