KOLKATA: After Assam released a draft list of citizens leaving out over 40 lakh people who stand to lose their citizenship, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said she was “worried about torture” and people had become “refugees” in their own country.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee termed it a clear attack on Bengalis. “They are targeting not Hindus or Muslims, but Bengalis.
Mamata Banerjee said,” There were people who had Aaadhar cards and passports but still their names are not in the draft list. Names of people were removed on the basis of surnames also.
Mamata Banerjee said that her state is ready to provide shelter to people not recognised as citizens in Assam’s National Register of Citizens, the final draft of which was published today.Banerjee also alleged that the central government has resorted to “vote-bank politics”.
According to Banerjee, she will take up the subject personally with Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Banerjee, on Monday, left for a three-day trip to Delhi. People have become refugees in their own country,” she claimed.
The opposition TMC, Congress, CPI(M) and SP criticised the government over the publication of the list, saying it puts “human rights and democratic rights” of people at stake.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh said only after the disposal of claims and objections, the final NRC will be published and even after the final NRC, every person will get an opportunity to approach the foreigners tribunal.
The Union home ministry had also advised the Assam government that no action should be initiated by the administration or the police based on the draft NRC.
Assam’s National Register of Citizens or NRC has been updated for the first time since 1951 to account for illegal migration from neighbouring Bangladesh.
