West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee on Friday dared the Centre to amend the Constitution and delete the word 'secular' from the Preamble.
Those who want to delete the word Secular from the Constitution, should bring an amendment... even that will be defeated
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) >January 30, 2015
“Those who want to delete the word secular should bring an amendment… even that will be defeated,” Ms. Banerjee tweeted.
Addressing a gathering earlier in the day, organised by the State’s Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department in Kolkata, Ms. Banerjee came down strongly against “religious conversion” and said that her government will take strong action against such attempts.
Ms. Banerjee felicitating students at an event organised by the State's Department of Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education . Photo: Sushanta Patranabish.
“What are these conversions…converting the poor forcibly and by paying money. We are secular; this is enshrined in our Constitution. If someone is making such attempts (to convert) they should first change the Constitution,” she said.
I am ready to sacrifice my life but I will not discriminate people based on their religion
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) >January 30, 2015
During her speech, Ms. Banerjee pointed out that a tendency to “encourage a war between religions” is being lately observed across the country and she is ready to sacrifice her life but "cannot discriminate people on religious lines."
Her remarks came at a time when reports of religious conversions have come up in West Bengal. Allegedly Viswa Hindu Parishad has converted tribals at Rampurhat in Birbhum district on Wednesday. The Birbhum District Police on Thursday had registered FIRs against two VHP leaders in this regard.
“We will take strong action against those who try to create a divide between the people. Law will take its own course,” she said.
Ms. Banerjee also emphasised that the Trinamool Congress Government is a democratically elected government and has the mandate to rule West Bengal in a similar manner, as the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) has the mandate to rule the Centre.
“Any intimidation tactics will not work against West Bengal,” she warned.
