International Live: Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma says the National Register of Citizens or NRC the list intended to identify legal residents and weed out illegal immigrants from the northeastern state - cannot be viewed as a "red letter" for the Assamese society. The senior BJP leader indicated that he had little faith the list would really help get rid of foreigners.

Over 19 lakh people have been left out in the final Assam citizens' list which was published at 10 this morning. 3.11 crore people have been included in the list that is available on www.nrcassam.nic.in.

"We have lost hope in the present form of the NRC right after the draft. When so many genuine Indians are out, then how can you claim that this document is a red letter for the Assamese society," Mr Sarma told local reporters this morning before the list was released.

The centre has said people whose names don't appear in the final NRC cannot be declared foreigners till all legal options are exhausted. Every person left out of the NRC can appeal to the Foreigners Tribunal, and the time limit to file the appeal has been extended from 60 to 120 days.

Dhaka 31 August (campuslive24.com)//MIH