New Delhi, July 21: The BJP on Sunday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for offering shelter to anyone coming in distress from Bangladesh and called it an “evil plan” of the INDIA bloc to settle illegal immigrants from the neighbouring country to Jharkhand to win elections. BJP co-incharge for West Bengal Amit Malviya also questioned Banerjee’s authority to offer shelter to anyone coming from other country, saying immigration and citizenship are exclusively in the Centre’s domain, and that states have no locus-standi in such matters. This came after the West Bengal chief minister said at a Kolkata rally that in the wake of the escalating violence in Bangladesh, she would keep the doors of her state open for people in distress from the neighbouring country and offer them shelter. Banerjee referred to the United Nations Resolution on refugees as justification for her stand over the possible humanitarian crisis that may emerge on account of the severe law and order breakdown that has gripped Bangladesh over the past few days.
Reacting sharply to Banerjee’s remarks, Malviya wrote in a post on X, “Who gave Mamata Banerjee the authority to welcome anyone in India? Immigration and citizenship are exclusively in the Center’s domain. The States have no locus-standi.” (PTI)
