Didi gets communal

Expectedly, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has opposed the draft National Register of Citizens (NRC) for political gains. Her manner was, however, shocking and violent. Her remark that “there will be a civil war, bloodbath in the country” was uncalled for. This is not only an irresponsible comment, but also extremely provocative. She is overtly polarising society and deliberately inciting violence for political gains. Apparently, Mamata Banerjee wants to use the issue to catapult herself to the top of all regional opposition leaders, jostling among one another to fill the vacuum created by Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who has wisely pulled out of the PM’s race. 

There is nothing wrong in her being an ambitious politician. She cannot, however, brand the entire NRC exercise as victimisation of immigrants belonging to a particular religion and conveniently disassociate herself from the entire episode. The NRC is a result of the Assam Accord signed by then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi in 1985. Mamata Banerjee was the youngest MP of the ruling Congress at that time, who had defeated veteran Communist leader Somnath Chatterjee in the 1984 General Election. She cannot change the three-decade-old narrative now and give it a communal twist merely because it suits her.

The signatories to the Assam Accord were All Assam Students’ Union (AASU), All Asom Gana Sangram Parishad (AAGSP), the Assam Government and the Rajiv Gandhi-led Central government. The agreement said foreigners who came to Assam on or after March 25, 1971, should continue to be “detected”, “deleted” and “expelled” in accordance with the law. The matter lingered as successive governments lacked the political will to implement the accord until the Supreme Court stepped in. The court has clarified that this is merely a draft and not the final register. Therefore, the 40 lakh affected people will get an opportunity to appeal. Instead of being a rabble-rouser, Didi should help the genuine citizens in the process of appeal. She can also help the illegal citizens in their rehabilitation in Bangladesh by using her good office. Meanwhile, leaders of the BJP should also understand their responsibility as the ruling party and avoid making inflammatory statements.