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Bengal

CM fires salvo at Centre for ignoring Bengal's observation on madrasas

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee came down heavily upon the BJP-led Central government at the state Assembly on Friday, accusing it of ignoring the state's observation on the madrasas and placing misleading reports in the Parliament. She also termed the Centre's statement on madrasas as 'politically motivated'.

"When specific questions are asked in Parliament, the Centre seeks a reply from the state government on those issues. On June 28, the GOI (Government of India) asked us whether madrasas are terror camps. We replied that such questions don't arise. But they ignored our version and placed a 'report of its own in Parliament.' The ruling party at the Centre is maligning the state government," Banerjee said, replying to a poser raised by TMC MLA Nargis Begum.

"Criminals are criminals, a terrorist is a terrorist, an anti-social is an anti-social and he or she does not have any religion. What is the religion of a thief? So one should not try to term someone as a 'terrorist' on the basis of his or her religion. This is unfortunate," Banerjee asserted and said that there is no freedom of press in the country and her party is planning to bring a Bill to protect media persons.

Banerjee submitted the letter of the GOI and the reply of the state government in the record of the Assembly, with the consent of Speaker Biman Banerjee. "Secrecy is maintained between the state government and the Central government. But, we have been misquoted and so we are submitting our reply in the House so that people know what we had said in our reply," Banerjee added.

Banerjee's outburst came in the wake of Union minister of state for Home G Kishan Reddy's statement in the Parliament that there were inputs regarding the Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh using certain madrasas in Burdwan and Murshidabad districts of the state for radicalisation and recruitment activities.

"In Bengal people of all caste, creed and religion live together and we are proud of this. Singling out a particular community is not desirable," Banerjee said.

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