West Bengal: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday criticized the BJP for raising the CAA issue ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and said she will never allow its implementation in the state during her lifetime.
Speaking at a public distribution program in Raiganj in North Dinajpur district, he alleged that the BJP “opportunistically raised” the issue of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA ahead of the upcoming elections.
Expressing the sentiments, Banerjee said, “With elections approaching, BJP has again raised the CAA issue to take political advantage. But let me make it clear that as long as I am alive, I will not allow it to be implemented in West Bengal.” Expressed the previous day.
His comments were inspired by Union Minister and BJP leader Shantanu Thakur’s recent claim that the CAA will be implemented across the country within a week.
Thakur’s statement, made during a public meeting in Kakdwip in South 24 Parganas district on Sunday, raised concerns about the imminent implementation of the controversial law.
The CAA, enacted by the BJP-led government at the Center in 2019, seeks to provide Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim immigrants, including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians, from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Entered India before 31 December 2014.
Expressing concern over reports of the Border Security Force (BSF) allegedly issuing separate identity cards to residents of border areas, Banerjee cautioned people against accepting such cards and warned them of possible fall in the “NRC trap”. Termed equipment.
Stressing the need for vigilance among border communities, Banerjee warned, “They are issuing different identity cards to people living in border areas. Never accept these cards. This is a trap.”
Banerjee’s claims match her earlier claims in Cooch Behar district, where she accused the BSF of similar actions, a charge the paramilitary force denied.
The Chief Minister mobilized support against the alliance between Congress, CPI(M) and BJP in West Bengal and urged the people to unite under the Trinamool Congress (TMC) banner to counter this perceived threat.
Calling for solidarity from citizens, Banerjee said, “It is TMC that is fighting for the rights of the people of the state. We all have to unite to defeat the Congress-CPI(M)-BJP alliance in Bengal.”
His comments come after his recent announcement of TMC’s decision to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in West Bengal alone.
