Will repeal NRC, CAA if INDIA bloc voted to power: Mamata

The West Bengal Chief Minister campaigned for the Trinamool Congress candidate in southern Assam’s Silchar

TMC Supremo and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee. File. | Photo Credit: PTI

GUWAHATI

Rioting and lies are the only guarantees of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Trinamool Congress president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said at an election rally in southern Assam’s Silchar.

The target of her attack was Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who emphasised ‘Modi ki Guarantee’ at a rally in the western part of Assam on Wednesday, the last day of campaigning for the first phase of polling on April 19.

Ms. Banerjee advised the people to be wary of the BJP’s alleged tendency to trigger communal riots.

“I extend my greetings to everyone on Ram Navami today. Bengal is one State where all communities live together. Be careful and alert. The BJP has no guarantee other than rioting and lies to gain from elections. This is a jumlabaj sarkar,” she said.

She also criticised the BJP’s alleged bid to dictate the food habits of people.

“Eating vegetarian or non-vegetarian food is a person’s choice. You cannot decide what I will eat and what I will not or what I will wear and what I will not,” she said.

Ms. Banerjee reminded the crowd of the BJP’s promises about giving 2 crore jobs and ₹15 lakh to each Indian. “The reality is, 10 lakh posts are lying vacant,” she said.

“They (BJP) will scare you. Why live in fear when we all will die one day? If Modi wins, there will be no democracy and no elections in the country. He will sell off the country,” she said.

“If we win, we will remove the NRC (National Register of Citizens), the CAA (Citizenship Amendment Act) and there won’t be any Uniform Civil Code in the country,” the Trinamool chief asserted.

Calling upon the people to unite against the BJP, she said the Trinamool and Congress – constituents of the INDIA bloc – showed how it can be done.

However, the Trinamool is contesting four Lok Sabha constituencies in Assam where Congress has nominated candidates. These are Silchar and Lakhimpur (second phase on April 26), and Barpeta and Kokrajhar (third phase on May 7).