Even as confusion prevails about the plight of 1.9 million people left out of the NRC, work on the construction of detention centres is in full swing in Assam.

There is confusion because of conflicting statements and procedures laid down. While BJP leaders have been assuring people that people left out will not be automatically detained, the excluded are allowed to approach tribunals and thereafter appeal to the High Courts—which is going to be a long-drawn out process.

So, who will be detained even before the legal processes and appeals are exhausted? And while the state is building 10 such camps to accommodate three thousand people in each of them, there is clearly no way the state can detain even 10 per cent of those excluded from the NRC.