A day after her meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the National Register of Citizens (NRC) “would never take place in Bengal.”
“Can I produce evidence of birth of my parents? Then how may ordinary people could produce such certificates?” she asked. Ms Banerjee came under attack from the CPI(M) and the Congress for allegedly “not discussing Bengal NRC” with Mr. Shah. She refuted the argument.
“We have not discussed about NRC in Bengal and [will] never do as we will never allow NRC in Bengal,” she said. She noted that while she was not sure about a nationwide NRC, the idea of conducting one in Bengal had no basis.
“Those who are claiming that NRC will be conducted in Bengal are doing it with an intention to scare people… CPI(M) and Congress also do not want to have an NRC in Bengal and thus it will never take place.” However, she asked the residents of Bengal to “ensure that their names are added to the voter list.”
“There is a date and I am not sure about it, perhaps 27, do check it and enroll yourself,” she added. The Chief Minister also said that residents with any of the relevant documents “like school certificate, ration card, name in voter list, [voter] identity card….or land, property or shops, driving licence etc.” need not worry.
“There is absolutely no reason to get depressed or to develop some fear psychosis, I am your gatekeeper... as long as I am alive no one can touch anyone in Bengal,” she said. Two persons who apparently died because of fear of NRC would be compensated.
In Assam, NRC could take place because of Assam Accord and it could not be done in other States bypassing the State government,” Ms. Banerjee said.
