The Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) has expressed deep anguish over the emerging situation in Assam state arising out of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) updating process and urged the Government of India and the Assam Government to "uphold their constitutional obligations to assure the safety and security of all, without fear or favour".

The CHRI, a leading human rights organisation of India said that reports from Assam state speak of deep anxieties and confusion over the run-up to the publication of the second draft of the NRC and the possible fallout thereof.

'We urge the Government of India to uphold its international obligations including to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDR) to which it is a signatory  as well as its constitutional mandate and the Assam Government to provide for the safety and security of all, without fear or favour' the statement said.

It was signed by Chairman Wajahat Habibullah, International Director Sanjoy Hazarika, former chief Justice of Delhi High Court Justice A P Shah, Population Foundation of India Executive Director Dr Poonam Muthreja, former Secretary to the Government of India (retd) IAS Vineeta Rai, National Security guard former DG (retd) IPS Jayanto N Chourdhury, former Secretary to Government of India (Retd IAS) Nitin Desai.