GUWAHATI: The reported comment made by West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee that on-going process of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam was meant to drive out 1.25 crore Bengalis has stirred the proverbial hornet’s nest in Assam where protests are rife against the alleged provocative statement.
A local organisation called Krishak Shramik Kalyan Parishad and a group of lawyers have filed separate FIRs at Dispur and Latasil police stations here respectively against Mamata Banerjee for her alleged inflammatory comment regarding the NRC updating process in Assam. Effigies of the West Bengal CM were burnt in many places by several organisations.
The ruling BJP in Assam has accused Mamata Banerjee of trying to play divisive politics over NRC updating process and thereby exposed her total lack of knowledge about the entire process which is meant for only to segregate illegal foreigners residing in Assam.
The general secretary of All Assam Students’ Union Lurin Jyoti Gogoi said the comment made by the West Bengal CM smacked of design to create communal divide in Assam and amounted to contempt of Supreme Court which is supervising the NRC updating process in Assam. The AASU leader hoped that the apex court would act against Banerjee over such unwarranted comment on a matter under its constant supervision.
Guwahati police commissioner Hiren Nath confirmed that the Dispur police station has received an FIR against Banerjee though the police was yet to register any case.
Nath said, “We have received an FIR. The Office in-charge of Dispur police station is looking into the complaint, which pertains to West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee making some statement in her state.” “No case has been registered by the police yet,” he added.
Meanwhile, the State BJP president, Ranjeet Dass, condemned Mamata Banerjee’s provocative statement on updated NRC in Assam, warning her against playing divisive politics with the emotions of the people of the state.
Dass said, “We have observed her comment with concern. She has exposed her total lack of understanding of the updating process of NRC for Assam.”
“Her eyes are set on West Bengal Assembly elections. Alarmed at BJP’s inroads into that state and her eroding base, she is seeking to play with the emotions of the people,” he added. Dass warned Banarjee against ‘playing politics on linguistic lines.
Dass pointed that since the NRC updating process was under Supreme Court’s direct supervision, the apex court could itself take case against Banerjee.
The first part draft of the updated NRC was published at midnight of December 31 last, which included the names of 1.90 crore Indian citizens in Assam out of total 3.29 crore applicants. The rest of the applications are under various stages of verification and a second draft would be published shortly.
The 1951 NRC in Assam is being updated with March 24, 1971 as the cut-off date so as to make it easier for the authorities to detect illegal migrants staying in the state a per the Assam Accord signed in 1985. As per the Assam Accord, illegal migrants from Bangladesh entering Assam illegally after March 25,1971 should be detected and deported.