Make Modi PM again to stop infiltration: Shah in Bengal
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday said neither the Congress nor the Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee can interfere with the Citizenship Amendment Act. Addressing a rally at Karandighi, West Bengal ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, Shah assured that all Hindu refugees will get citizenship under the new law. The senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader also said that his party has set a target of winning 35 Lok Sabha seats of the total 42 in the eastern seat.
Why does this story matter?
The CAA, which makes it easier for non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh to get Indian citizenship, was enacted in 2019. The Centre, however, notified its rules in March this year. In its election manifesto, the BJP has promised to give citizenship to eligible people using CAA. CM Banerjee has promised she will not let the Centre implement the CAA and Uniform Civil Code in West Bengal.
Only Modi can stop infiltration, says Shah
Shah also said that if people of West Bengal want to stop infiltration into the state they have to make Narendra Modi the prime minister again. Hitting out at Banerjee, Shah added, "I have come to ask Mamata Didi...what problem will she have if the Hindu and Buddhist refugees from Bangladesh get citizenship in India?" Shah was in Uttar Dinajpur district to seek support for BJP candidate Kartik Paul who is contesting from Raiganj—which goes to polls on April 26.
Banerjee allowed women to be tortured: Shah
The Union minister also brought up the Sandeshkhali row, which has become the latest flashpoint in Bengal ahead of the general elections. "In Sandeshkhali, Mamata Banerjee allowed women to be tortured so that her votebank is not affected. The high court intervened and today the accused are in jail," Shah said. To recall, former TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his supporters stand at the center of the Sandeshkhali controversy, facing accusations of sexual assault against women and land encroachment.
BJP making baseless statements out of fear: Mamata
On Monday, in a campaign blitz Banerjee attended back-to-back rallies in Raiganj in Kumarganj. The Bengal CM mounted an attack on the BJP saying, "Fear...panic have gripped the BJP. After the first phase of polling in nearly 100 seats...they have sensed defeat...They are making baseless statements." Banerjee also called the Sandeshkhali row a "ploy to malign us ahead of polls." The TMC leader reiterated that the CAA and the National Register of Citizens will not be implemented in Bengal.
