West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday delivered a loud and clear message that “India needs a change in 2019”.
Speaking at a conclave organised by the Catholic Bishops Conference of India on the theme of “Love your neighbour”, Ms. Banerjee said the ruling party’s diktats on “what to eat, what to wear, where to stay” could not be tolerated.
“India needs a change and that change has to happen in 2019,” the Chief Minister said.
She cautioned the government that there would be a civil war and blood bath in Assam where 40 lakh people had not made it to the final draft list of the National Register for Citizens and faced an uncertain future.
“What is going on in Assam? It is not only the Bengalis — it is the minorities, it is Hindus, it is Bengalis, it is Biharis … more than 40 lakh people who voted for the ruling party have suddenly been made refugees in their own country,” Ms. Banerjee said in her 20-minute address.
Ms. Banerjee said even members of former President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed’s family had not been included in the NRC. “We can’t let them die,” she said.
Against divisions
“If Bengalis say Biharis can’t stay in Bengal, South Indian people say North Indians can’t stay there and North Indians say South Indians can’t stay here, what will be [the] state of this country,” she wondered.
Referring to the several incidents of lynching across the country, Ms. Banerjee said “I am not that liberal to love people who lynch. I am with the people. If tribals, Dalits and minorities are isolated, it may lead to civil unrest,” she said.
Speaking to presspersons, Ms. Banerjee responded sharply to a question on the BJP’s assertion that it would carry out the NRC exercise in West Bengal too. “Who is Amit Shah? Who is BJP? Are they West Bengal’s guardians? Let them first come to power in the State,” the Chief Minister said.
(With PTI inputs)
