Kolkata: Cautioning about the central government attempting a future rollout of the NRC in West Bengal, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday urged people to ensure their names are there in the voters list correctly so that they cannot be sent to a detention centre later.
“This NRC (National Register of Citizens) game has again started. From this platform, I will say this to all residents of Bengal that one needs to be very careful because tomorrow, the central government will say your name is not in the NRC list and they will send you to a detention camp,” Banerjee said at an official programme here.
While stating that her government would never let “this nefarious agenda” be fulfilled, she appealed to the people to go to the voting centres and join the ongoing exercise to update the voters list.
“Make sure that your name is there in the voters list. Make sure that the central government doesn’t strike your name off the list in the garb of NRC. Go to the voting centre, and check your names. Sometimes, though your name might be correct, your spouse’s name might not be there and they will cancel your name too. Make sure these things don’t happen,” she said at a function where she handed over land title deeds to beneficiaries.
Banerjee said she was cautioning the people because lot of names were removed from the NRC list in Assam.
“We had taken up agitation back then too, and today also I repeat that I condemn the NRC exercise,” she said.
Without naming Narendra Modi, she said he became prove minister because of the support of the people who came from Bangladesh prior to 1971 after losing all they had.
“These people are now being told they aren’t citizens of our country. Well, if that is the case, how did these people go out and vote for you
“Today, you are taking the high ground and claiming that you will give these people citizenship. Isn’t that demeaning to the people who work here, who have kids studying in schools here. These people already have Aadhaar card, they have ration card, they have voters’ cards,” the chief minister said.
She said even those turning 18 this year, should go to the voting centre and make sure their names are added in the voters list. “Make sure there’s no spelling error in your name. Always remember, no one will give you your rights, you have to snatch your rights”.
Banerjee also asserted that her government did not believe in taking land from the people for development projects without paying adequate compensation.
“The Bengal government does not believe in the policy of using bulldozers and bulldozing people’s land.
“I want to tell this to everyone, if even the Centre comes asking you for your land to build airports, start an agitation, the state government stands with you. Until and unless you are fairly compensated, do not leave your land,” she said.
