TMC stood beside those left out from NRC: Mamata in Assam

Dhubri: Addressing a rally in Dhubri on Friday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship (Amendment) Bill are two lollipops being doled out by PM Modi to fool people of Assam.

“TMC has stood beside all 40 lakh people – Hindu or Muslim — whose names have been left out of NRC,” said the party chief Mamata Banerjee.

 "It was not only Muslims, but the names of 22 lakh Hindus and also Gorkhas, Biharis, Tamils and people from Kerala and Rajasthan have been left out from the NRC. We are fighting to get all of their names included," she said.

"Within two days after the NRC list was announced, I sent a team of my party to Assam. We were not allowed to go out of the airport and harassed," she said.

Claiming the Citizenship Amendment Bill as conspiracy, Mamata Banerjee said, "In Citizenship Amendment Bill, you will be a foreigner for six years, then you will be given citizenship, why? What will you do in those six years? What about your job, school and every essential thing."

Mamata did not leave any stones unturned in slamming the 'Main Bhi Chowkidar' campaign. "Five years ago PM Modi called himself 'Chaiwala' but now he has forgotten how to make tea and has become 'chowkidar'," she added.

The West Bengal government was considering to take over Bharat Ratna Bhupen Hazarika's home in Kolkata and rename a road after the maestro to keep his legacy alive.

"I and the people in West Bengal remember all his songs and we have offered to procure his home which is a private property", Banerjee added.

The Trinamool Congress is contesting nine of the 14 Lok Sabha seats in the state, which is set to go to polls in three phases from April 11 to May 19.

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