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‘Refugees in their own country’: Mamata Banerjee slams Assam’s updated citizen list
The NRC has been updated for the first time since 1951 to account for illegal migration from neighbouring Bangladesh in Assam.
West Bengal chief minister and Trinamool Congress president Mamata Banerjee led the opposition attack on the Centre and the BJP on Monday following the publication of the second and final draft of the National Citizens Register in Assam which left out 40 lakh people from the list.
“There were people who have Aadhaar cards and passports but still their names are not in the draft list. Names of people were removed on the basis of surnames also. Is the government trying to do forceful eviction?” Banerjee said.
“People are being isolated through a game plan. We are worried because people are being made refugees in their own country. Its a plan to throw out Bengali speaking people and Biharis. Consequences will be felt in our state also,” Banerjee said.
The Congress also criticized draft of the NRC with Assam Congress unit chief Ripun Bora blaming the ruling BJP’s ‘politcal motive’ behind the exclusion of the names of 40 lakh applicants.
“40 lakh names ineligible is a very high figure and very surprising. There are lot of irregularities in the report. We will raise this issue with the government and in the Parliament. Political motive of BJP is also behind this,” Bora said.
SS Roy of the Trinamool Congress said that the exclusion of 40 lakh people from the NRC will have serious ramifications.
“Central government has intentionally eliminated more than 40 lakh religious and linguistic minorities from NRC which will have serious ramifications on the demography of different states adjoining Assam. PM should come to house and clarify it,” Roy said.
But Union home minister Rajnath Singh defended the NRC as an ‘impartial report’.
“Some people are unnecessarily trying to create an atmosphere of fear. This is a completely impartial report. No misinformation should be spread. This is a draft and not the final list,” Singh said.
Another TMC MP Sougata Roy gave a notice for an adjournment motion in Lok Sabha over the NRC.
In the Rajya Sabha, Opposition parties led by the TMC and the Samajwadi Party created an uproar over the publication of the NRC, forcing adjournment of proceedings till noon.
Meanwhile, Assam chief minister Sarbananda Sonowal while describing the day as historic, appealed for peace after the NRC’s publication.
“NRC is a national programme. It is the duty and obligation of every Indian citizen to maintain peace in the wake of its publication. I appeal to all sections of the society to desist from making any inflammatory or communal remarks,” he said.
