With elections approaching, the Trinamool Congress has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of using the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as a “cynical, political” tool to get votes.
West Bengal Minister Shashi Panja reiterated her party’s stand that the CAA would not be implemented in Bengal. She charged Shantanu Thakur, Union Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways of “cynical manipulation and double-speak regarding the CAA issue.”
“Mr Shantanu Thakur says one thing in Delhi and the exact opposite in Bengal,” she told The Daily Guardian, about the contentious citizenship act.
“Mamata Banerjee, our Chief Minister and chairperson of the All-India Trinamool Congress, has already said that CAA will not be implemented in Bengal. Those who are already citizens of the country and the recipients and beneficiaries of the various welfare schemes of our Government, do not need to be given citizenship twice,” she added.
The Trinamool-BJP war of words over CAA politics has gained momentum in the past few weeks since the visit of Home Minister Amit Shah to Kolkata.In his address to the social media volunteers of the party, Shah had clarified his party’s stand on the issue of giving citizenship rights to persecuted minorities coming from India’s neighbouring countries, in accordance with the enacted law.
Shah stated that “didi” – as Banerjee is addressed in Bengal – is repeatedly “misleading” the “sharnarthis”, referring to Hindu refugees, mostly from Bangladesh. “Whether CAA will be enforced, or won’t be. The law paused after being enacted. Today, I want to speak it out in front of all of you. CAA is the law of this country. None can stop it from being enforced,” Shah had said.
“All eligible individuals will get citizenship.
This is our party’s commitment. Those brothers, who have come over after facing hardships, who have been driven out with the fear of conversion…To protect their honour, respect, assets, decent living, is the responsibility of every Indian. This CAA will happen. Didi, you don’t worry,” Shah assured.
“Didi, the CAA is the law of the land and no one can stop its implementation,” the BJP leader had also mentioned on X.
Mamata Banerjee has also been bringing up the CAA and NRC issue while addressing members of the minority community. She has been emphasising that Bengal needs to be safeguarded with a Trinamool Government. Banerjee has been stating that if her party gets less seats, then BJP’s “excesses” will further increase in different forms.
“CAA-NRC, you have seen,” she said, adding that what’s being put forth as “CAA” be offered as a responsibility to the district magistrates. “Don’t get misled. Remember, as long as we are there… If anyone tries to harm you… I was your guard, I am, and will continue to be so,” she stated.
Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, stated that “four years and 17 days have elapsed since CAA was passed in Parliament, leaving a trail of at least 83 lives lost in the chaos that ensued”.
Ghosh added that the Ministry of Home Affairs, that Shah controls, has till date “sought nine extensions to frame rules that will govern the Act. The new deadline is 2024”. The Trinamool spokesperson further alleged that CAA was a “cynical, political game by the BJP to deceive, manipulate and woo voters ahead of elections and nothing more”.
