Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal, in his Independence Day Speech on Thursday, said the state government had moved the Supreme Court for re-verification of National Register of Citizens (NRC) papers only to ensure an error-free register.

“The NRC is being updated under supervision of the Supreme Court. The state government has been extending help in preparation of updated NRC. Around 55,000 state government employees and police personnel are involved in the process. We hope that people will get an error free NRC, which will be turned into a historic document where names of no foreigners will be included and no genuine Indian citizen will be left out,” he said after unfurling the Tricolour at the College of Veterinary Science ground here.

“We sought re-verification only to ensure an error free NRC. The state government is committed towards protection of all genuine Indian citizens residing in the state,” he said.

The Centre and the state government had filed a petition by seeking sample re-verification of 20 per cent of applicants from areas bordering Bangladesh and 10 per cent elsewhere in the state. But the request was turned down by the Supreme Court on August 13.

The final NRC will be published on August 31, the deadline set by the apex court.

The government plea was based on district wise data that showed exclusion was just 7.7 per cent in the border areas and 12.7 per cent in other areas, fuelling apprehension that illegal migrants could have got themselves enrolled in the NRC being updated only in Assam.

NRC state coordinator Prateek Hajela had told the Supreme Court on July 23 that re-verification was not necessary.

In the 30-minute speech, the chief minister said the 73rd Independence day is special for the entire nation as it comes at a time when long standing dream of Jammu and Kashmir’s complete amalgamation with the country. He also thanked the Prime Minister and Union home minister for such a historic decision.

“We are on the path to secure a constitutional safeguard for our people. To implement Clause 6 of Assam accord, which promised constitutional, legal and legislative safeguards to indigenous Assamese, the formation of the high-level committee is another great step taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Without hurting the rights of other indigenous communities of Assam the central government has taken steps to provide ST status to six communities — Tai Ahom, Moran, Matak, Chutia, Koch Rajbongshi and the tea tribes,” Sonowal added.

The venue witnessed a healthy turnout. A floral shower by helicopters at the beginning of the programme was followed by the ceremonial salute of the marchpast. The chief minister fondly remembered the freedom fighters of the state who had laid down their lives for their motherland.