CAA a trap, ignore it, we will protect you: Mamata Banerjee

Desk Report

Publisted at 9:09 PM, Tue Mar 12th, 2024

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday urged people not to apply for citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), guaranteeing their security as she criticised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for enforcing the act.

She said, “The BJP hates Bengalis. If they hear a man speaking Bengali, they immediately declare him a Bangladeshi. People from both sides of the border speak the same language. Ignore CAA. Nobody can touch you. We will protect you.”

Mamata Banerjee said CAA is directly linked to the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which led to the exclusion of 1.9 million people, including 1.3 million Hindus.

“Many Hindus died by suicide. CAA is their first step to enforcing NRC in Bengal. It is a trap. Do not fall for it,” she said. “What about properties you have purchased here; shops you have set up or the jobs you do? You will lose everything overnight if you fall for this trap.”

“Will you put your fate in the hands of the BJP, which has done this just to win two or three seats? If you apply for citizenship, you may not be able to vote in the coming election,” continued Mamata Banerjee.

She raised question as saying whether the CAA has any legal validity.

“Does it guarantee the rights of citizens under Article 14 [equality before the law or the equal protection of the laws] and 21 [right to life and personal liberty] of the Constitution?” Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of hoodwinking everyone.

“Think a thousand times before applying,” she said. She went on saying that the moment someone applies for citizenship under CAA, the person would voluntarily declare himself an illegal immigrant and automatically lose citizenship rights, properties, and jobs.

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