CM Sarma emphasised that the tougher rules are aimed at curbing the influx of illegal foreigners. He suggested that it can be presumed that someone who doesn't have an ARN was not present in Assam in 2015, when the NRC exercise occurred, and thus may have recently made their way into the state.
The new rules, the CM said, will not apply to the over 9 lakh people whose biometrics were mistakenly locked in 2019 during the NRC updation process.
The new rules will also not apply to the tea-garden areas, as many residents there have reportedly not gotten their Aadhaar cards due to practical difficulties such as non-availability of adequate biometric machines.
During a press conference, Sarma said people will be granted a no-objection certificate by the district commissioner, following a thorough review. Possessing an ARN confirms that the person was in the state before 2014, he said.
CM Himanta Biswa Sarma said four districts, Barpeta, Dhubri, Morigaon, and Nagaon, had reported more Aadhaar applications than their total projected populations. This, he added, suggested that the applicants included foreigners.
The chief minister said his government will intensify the process of identifying illegal foreigners as several Bangladeshis have been apprehended in the last two months and handed over to the neighbouring country.
The Assam government plans to issue a notification regarding the new rules within 10 days.
Illegal immigration has been an emotive issue in Assam for decades. The NRC exercise conducted in 2015 was also meant to identify illegal foreigners. The list prepared has yet to be notified amid complaints that many genuine citizens have been left out.
Earlier this year, Sarma sought to assure the state's residents that he won't allow non-NRC applicants to enter the state through the CAA, which is controversial in Assam because of its promise of citizenship to persecuted non-Muslims who entered India illegally.