Owaisi Raises Alarm Over Citizenship Rights Amidst 'Backdoor NRC' Claims

AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi raised concerns over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, comparing it to the NRC, which he claims targets Muslims. Highlighting Assam's NRC case, he emphasized the discriminatory potential and warned of severe repercussions on individuals' citizenship status and voting rights.

Asaduddin Owaisi, Chief of the AIMIM and Hyderabad MP, has raised red flags concerning the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, likening it to the contentious National Register of Citizens (NRC). According to Owaisi, this process poses a real threat to the Muslim community and constitutes a 'matter of life and death.'

Addressing the media, Owaisi clarified that his objective is to raise awareness rather than evoke fear among communities, stating, 'No community is easily frightened, but they must be prepared.' He criticized Assam's NRC for its selective targets, arguing that many non-Muslims, as per the state's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, are promised citizenship, while Muslims face stringent scrutiny.

Owaisi also warned of the broader implications of exclusion, highlighting risks beyond voting rights. He warned that being left off the citizenship list jeopardizes legal standing in the country. Citing a Supreme Court judgment, he pointed out the process of forwarding excluded names from the register to the Ministry of Home Affairs, further escalating concerns over these revisions.