The Assam PCC on Monday said delimitation is a new drama created by the BJP government to be used in the 2021 polls to “divide” the people on religious lines.

PCC senior spokesperson Apurba Kumar Bhattacharjee said the delimitation process in the state would be futile until the complete update of the National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The Centre on Friday cancelled its earlier notifications which deferred delimitation in Assam, Nagaland, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh because of security issues, saying the exercise could be carried out “now” as the previous circumstances cease to exist.

Bhattacharjee asked whether the delimitation committee has been constituted and who would be the chairman as the earlier chairman Kuldeep Singh was no more. He said to cover up the failure of the Clause 6 committee, the state BJP has come with the delimitation process, which is nothing but “drama”.

“One senior minister is saying that delimitation is essential for the safeguard of the constitutional rights of the voters as well as the elected leaders. The BJP is saying through the implementation of Clause 6, they will protect the indigenous people, but why did the ministry of home affairs, which had constituted the high-level committee, did not receive the report? Delimitation is nothing but a trick to fool the people,” he added.

He said anti-CAA protests are still going on, the people are hitting the streets but the BJP government has violated the 1971 March cut-off date according to the Assam Accord by bringing in the CAA.

“Assam goes to the polls next year. So, the BJP will seek votes in the name of religion. Delimitation, which was deferred in 2008, will be used to divide people on religious lines,” he said.

He also said in Karbi Anglong and Dima Hasao districts, the PCC, during its anti-CAA rally, received complaints of alleged “widespread corruption” and “extortion” in tree, coal and sandstone syndicates.

“A syndicate raj is going on allegedly under chief executive member (CEM) of Karbi Anglong, Tuliram Ronghang, and NC Hills CEM Debolal Gorlosa. A coal scam is functioning openly in the area, and coal excavated from Meghalaya is also getting transported from there to Nepal and Bangladesh, without any government rules and regulations in place. Pine trees are being exploited,” he alleged.

He said: “Sonowal claimed zero-tolerance towards corruption, then who are involved in this syndicate? He should clarify and take action.”