Systematic assault on democracy: Mamata Banerjee after man in West Bengal gets Assam Foreigners' Tribunal notice

Over a NRC notice to West Bengal resident in Coochbehar by Foreigners Tribunal in Assam, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday has called for Opposition unity against BJP’s divisive policies.

In a post on X Handle, Banerjee pointed out that NRC notice to Uttam Kumar Brajabasi, a representative of the Rajbanshi, who is a resident of Dinhata in Cooch Behar for over 50 years is “nothing short of a systematic assault on democracy”
Political slugfest has started over the notice and following claims made by Mamata Banerjee.


West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday (July 8, 2025) said that she was shocked and disturbed to learn that the Foreigners Tribunal in Assam has issued an NRC notice to a resident of Dinhata in Cooch Behar and claimed that “premeditated attempt is being made to intimidate, disenfranchise, and target marginalised communities”.

Banerjee emphasized that this "alarming situation calls for urgent unity among all Opposition parties to stand up against BJP’s divisive and oppressive machinery. Bengal will not stand by as the constitutional fabric of India is torn apart."

The Trinamool Congress Supremo calling the situation “alarming” and called for “urgent unity among all Opposition parties to stand up against BJP’s divisive and oppressive machinery”.

“This alarming situation calls for urgent unity among all Opposition parties to stand up against BJP’s divisive and oppressive machinery. Bengal will not stand by as the constitutional fabric of India is torn apart,” the Chief Minister posted on social media.

The person who has recieved the notice, Uttam Kumar Brajabashi, a resident of Coochbehar, said his parents has been living in Bengal for generations. "My age is 50. I was asked to show my documents," Brajabashi said.

Apurba Singh, lawyer of Brabashi said, "We received the notice from Coochbehar SP office. How could SP office serve it if they are supporting."

In a post on ‘X’ Ms. Banerjee pointed out that NRC notice to Uttam Kumar Brajabasi, a Rajbanshi, resident of Dinhata in Cooch Behar for over 50 years is “nothing short of a systematic assault on democracy”.

The Chief Minister said that the resident of West Bengal is being harassed on suspicion of him being a “foreigner/illegal migrant” despite furnishing valid identity documents."

She said that the development is proof that the “ruling BJP dispensation in Assam is attempting to implement NRC in Bengal, where it holds no power or jurisdiction”.

"I am shocked and deeply disturbed to learn that the Foreigners Tribunal in Assam has issued an NRC notice to Uttam Kumar Brajabasi, a Rajbanshi, resident of Dinhata in Cooch Behar for over 50 years. Despite furnishing valid identity documents, he is being harassed on suspicion of being a "foreigner/illegal migrant", Bengal Chief Minister said.

"This is nothing short of a systematic assault on democracy. It is proof that the ruling BJP dispensation in Assam is attempting to implement NRC in Bengal, where it holds no power or jurisdiction. A premeditated attempt is being made to intimidate, disenfranchise, and target marginalised communities. This unconstitutional overreach is anti-people, and exposes BJP’s dangerous agenda of bulldozing democratic safeguards and erasing the identity of Bengal's people,: Banerjee pointed out..

The development comes at a time when large number of migrant workers from West Bengal working in different parts of the country are allegedly pushed back in Bangladesh with the help of security agencies. More than half a dozen of such migrants have been repatriated to the country after the intervention of state government.

The West Bengal Chief Minister has also raised questions about the revision of electoral rolls in the neighbouring state of Bihar and accused that ECI was trying to implement NRC ( National Register of Citizens) from the backdoor.

Udayan Guha, State North Bengal Minister said, "Uttam has on camera in TV said he never went to Assam. He has been forcefully sent Kamrup SP has sent the notice. BJP party is anti-Rajbanshi."

"How can he get the notice? What is administration doing?" a local BJP claimed.

Meanwhile, former BJP State President Sukanta Majumdar said, "Assam government cannot target a Bengali in Bengal through NRC. it is a false ploy by Trinamool Congress government."