
NRC, Citizenship Amendment Bill only to divert attention from economic slowdown: Mamata Banerjee
Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused the BJP-led central government of trying to divert attention of the public from the economic slowdown by taking up the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill and the National Register of Citizens (NRC).
“NRC and CAB two sides of the same coin. Will oppose both of them tooth and nail,” PTI quoted her as saying at a programme of the Trinamool Congress in Kolkata.
“NRC and CAB are being taken up to divert attention from economic slowdown,” said Banerjee who has consistently opposed both the NRC and CAB.
The government plans to introduce the CAB in Parliament next week. A copy of the bill which seeks to fast-track the grant of Indian citizenship to religious minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, was distributed among members of Parliament on Friday morning for them to study it.
The Bengal CM dug in her heels saying she will continue to oppose it.
“If you give citizenship to all the communities we will accept it. But if you discriminate on the basis of religion we will fight against it”, Banerjee said. “You (BJP) can pass CAB in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha as you have majority. But we will not accept it and oppose it till the end.”
On Wednesday, the Union Cabinet cleared the draft legislation of the CAB which was a key election promise of the BJP.
It also set the stage for a parliamentary showdown with opposition parties that have called the move divisive.
According to the draft CAB, it will not apply to tribal areas under the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution, which deals with autonomous tribal-dominated regions in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram and areas covered under the inner-line permit (ILP) regime, under which non-locals need prior permission before visiting these areas in Arunachal Pradesh, Nagaland and Mizoram.

Six states contribute 86% of daily new Covid cases: Govt data

Tripura Lok Janshakti Party chief arrested for forgery and cheating
- A crime branch team of Tripura police led by deputy superintendent of police Ajay Kumar Das raided Kar's residence and recovered forged documents.

News updates from HT: I-T raids on Anurag, Taapsee do not surprise NCP, Sena

SC rules out immediate hearing on pleas challenging Tamil Nadu’s 69% quota law
- The petitions challenging the Tamil Nadu quota law have been pending in the Supreme Court since 2012.

Weight in claim for declaring persons linked with judicial functions frontline

India downgraded from ‘free’ to ‘partly free’ in democracy report
- The report titled “Freedom in the World 2021 - Democracy under Siege” said India “appears to have abandoned its potential to serve as a global democratic leader”.

Wet spell likely over NW India this weekend: IMD

US welcomes steps taken to return J-K to full economic, political normalcy

I-T raids on Anurag, Taapsee going on: 'Nothing new', say NCP, Shiv Sena

SC to hear women officers' petitions for permanent commission in Army, Navy

LIVE: Canada panel recommends 4 months gap between Covid-19 vaccine doses

Disagreeing with govt is not sedition, says SC
- India’s sedition law has an interesting past — it was introduced by the British in 1870, decided to be dropped from the Constitution in 1948 after discussions of the Constituent Assembly.

Centre plans tourism push to mark 75 years of Independence
- India will also promote tourism by celebrating 2022 as the Visit India Year through a promotion campaign highlighting India’s strengths like heritage, culture, art, wellness and yoga.

2 held for murder of sexual assault survivor’s father
- The ADG has constituted teams of police personnel from Aligarh to assist the Hathras police.

Teen held for murder of girl after rape bid
- The incident took place on Sunday afternoon, when the girl went to a wheat field, owned by the family of the accused, to collect fodder and water.