BJP Chief and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in a seminar in Kolkata ‘clarified’ his party’s stance a NRC in Bengal and the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB) 2016.
“Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Christian refugees will be given citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Bill, but infiltrators will be thrown out,”said Shah at the seminar held in Kolkata’s Netaji Indoor Stadium.
Shah’s address comes at a time when eleven people reportedly killed themselves in the state due to ‘panic around the NRC’.
The West Bengal government has also been issuing public service announcements, trying to subdue public panic about the NRC and also suggesting ways in which citizens can get their papers in order.
‘Divisive Politics Will Not Work in Bengal’: Mamata
Following Shah’s remarks, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cautioned the people of the state against divisive politics and said it will not work in the state.
"Everyone is welcome to our state and enjoy the hospitality of our people. But please don't profess any divisive politics... It will not work in Bengal," she said, inaugurating a community puja in south Kolkata.
“Please don’t spread the religion of divisive politics. Please don’t create rift among people. Bengal is known to respect leaders of different faiths for ages. This can never be spoilt.”West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
‘Mamata Misleading People On NRC’: Shah
At the rally, Amit Shah attacked Banerjee saying the people of Bengal were being ‘misled’ with regard to the NRC.
“Mamata Didi is telling everyone that Hindu refugees will have to leave Bengal if NRC is implemented. There can be no greater lie,” Shah thundered.
“I have come today to assure the people of Bengal. I have come to assure all refugees – Hindus, Buddhist, Sikhs, Jains, and Christians – especially the Hindu refugees because their numbers are high, that they will not be asked to leave India by the government,” he said.
“There are lies being spread to instigate the people of Bengal. This is a very sensitive issue. There are people who have come back to their land after facing discrimination and violence. Please don’t spread lies at their expense,” Shah added.
Taking on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s statement that she will never allow a NRC in Bengal, Shah said that he will “not allow a single infiltrator to stay in India”.
He further said that Mamata was ‘protecting’ infiltrators because they are now her vote bank.
“Earlier when the infiltrators used to vote for the Left, she was against them. But now they have become her vote bank, so she’s asking us not to thrown them out.”, said Shah.
“We won’t let any refugees leave, but we won’t let any infiltrators stay either,” he added with finality.
‘BJP Will Enforce Citizenship Amendment Bill Before Bringing In NRC’: Shah
Further emphasising that ‘Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist and Christian refugees’ should not worry about the NRC, Shah said that the BJP will implement the Citizenship Amendment Bill first, before beginning an exercise like NRC.
“What is the meaning of the Citizenship Amendment Bill (CAB)? CAB means that all the Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist and Christian refugees in India will be given citizenship of India,” Shah said.
“I want to assure all the refugees in India that the Narendra Modi government will bring the Citizenship Amendment Bill, and once it comes into effect, you will have as much right over India as I do. The BJP will give each refugee the right to potentially become Prime Minister of India,” Shah added.
Attacking the Trinamool Congress once again, Shah said that the TMC leaders who are now shedding ‘crocodile tears’, disrupted the Rajya Sabha when the CAB was introduced in the House.
“If our refugee brothers and sisters, like the Matuas and other refugees, are not citizens of India today, it is because the Trinamool Congress opposed CAB,” he said.
“Go to all your refugee brothers and sisters and assure them that they don’t have to leave the country. They will become citizens,” Shah said to the party workers.
(At The Quint, we question everything. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member today.)