Kolkata: Accusing the BJP of creating panic over National Register of Citizens (NRC), the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that its implementation has led to six deaths in the state.
Addressing a trade unions’ meeting here, the Trinamool Congress supremo asserted that she will not allow NRC exercise in the state.
“NRC exercise will not be carried out in Bengal or anywhere else in country, it was conducted in Assam due to Assam accord.
“Even Bihar Chief Minister (Nitish Kumar,where there is a NDA government) has said he won’t allow NRC in his state. If BJP is so keen on NRC why don’t they conduct the exercise in the BJP-ruled Tripura. Then you will see Tripura Chief Minister (Biplab Deb) himself is out of the list,” Mamata Banerjee told the gathering.
“Shame on the BJP for creating panic over NRC in Bengal. It has led to six deaths. Have faith in me, I will never allow the exercise in Bengal. The BJP should stop spreading false rumours and canards over NRC. Who are they to ask for my papers? After so many years where from will I get my papers, documents might get washed away in natural calamity or it might get misplaced,” Mamata Banerjee said, without elaborating further.
According to the state government sources, so far six people have died in several districts of Bengal. Two of them allegedly committed suicide after failing to get hold of old documents and four others died after they fell ill while standing in queue with thousands at government offices to get their documents.
More than 19 lakh people in Assam have been excluded from the recently published final NRC, a proof of Indian citizenship.
Criticising the saffron party for ‘undermining democratic values’ in the country the chief minister said, “Democracy exists in Bengal but it is under threat in several other parts of the country.”
The BJP is not talking about job losses or the downward spiral of Indian economy, all it wants to do is serve own political interests, alleged Mamata Banerjee.
“A rally will be taken out October 18 against privatisation and shutting down of public sector units across the country. I will take part in it. Then September 26-27, we would conduct protest rallies in the city (Kolkata) against privatisation,” the TMC chief informed.
The central government is planning disinvestment of 42 PSUs, out of which many of them are profit making. “I believe protests are important in a democracy. The day protests lose their value, India will stop being India,” pointed out Banerjee.
Meanwhile West Bengal BJP president, Dilip Ghosh pointed out that Mamata Banerjee herself is trying to create panic over NRC in order to instill fear among the Hindus.
“She is trying to create panic among Hindus over NRC. We have clearly said all the Hindus who have come from other countries will be given citizenship under Citizenship (Ammendment) Bill (CAB) and then NRC will be implemented to weed out infiltrators,” Dilip Ghosh said.
According to the TMC sources, the publication of the final NRC list in Assam has left out over 19.6 lakh people. Among them 12 lakh are Bengali Hindus.
PTI