Mamata Banerjee says centre playing politics as Union Min promises CAA in 7 days

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Union Shipping Minister (MoS) and Matua Mahasangh leader Shantanu Thakur are at loggerheads with Banerjee stating on Monday that politics is being played over the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) issue ahead of the Lok Sabha polls and asserted that everyone in Bengal has citizenship. Banerjee's comments on CAA came a day after Shantanu Thakur claimed that the CAA would be implemented in seven days.

Thakur had said at a public rally: "You mark my words. I promise that CAA will be implemented in one week." Thakur, a Matua leader, is a Lok Sabha MP from Bongaon, a Matua dominated constituency where CAA has been a long-term demand.

Banerjee, who held an administrative meeting and public programme in Cooch Behar district which is dominated by the Rajbanshi community said: "Our Rajbanshi friends are citizens already. They are speaking about CAA to do politics before the elections. She slammed the BSF and warned people not to take identity cards distributed by them. Banerjee distributed land deeds in Siliguri after her Cooch Behar programme.


"Everybody is a citizen. People here have Aadhaar card. We have given them recognition and the benefits of our welfare schemes...If these people aren't citizens, how did they vote? How did they get the benefits of these welfare schemes," Banerjee asked while talking about the CAA issue.

Banerjee slammed the BSF for entering bordering villages and said, "I will ask the administration to lodge FIRs against them if they fire at villagers indiscriminately or torture our people after entering villages. They want to conduct elections in an unfair manner and through threats and intimidation." Banerjee also spoke about the Sitalkuchi incident in the last election.

She slammed the Centre for stopping MGNREGA funds once again and said that she would hold a meeting with the beneficiaries. "They (Centre) haven't released funds for MGNREGA for two years. The people who worked haven't received their wages. I have generated 40% of 100 days of work and poor people have got work."

Banerjee said she will start a dharna from February 2 if MGNREGA funds are not released.

"I will wait till February 1. They have to release our money. Otherwise, I will hold meetings with the beneficiaries, who have not received their wages," Banerjee said. "After the meeting, I will chalk out the future course of action," she added.