TMC will never implement NRC in Bengal: Partha

Kolkata: The Bengal government will never implement the National Register of Citizens to divide people and the society, said Partha Chatterjee, secretary general of Trinamool Congress, on Friday.

Reacting sharply to the statement made by BJP national president Amit Shah at an election meeting held in Alipurduar on Friday, he said that if BJP is elected in Bengal, it will implement NRC and drive out the 'infiltrators'.

"Trinamool Congress is against NRC which is used to divide people and terrorise them. We are against any policy that divides people," he said, adding: "BJP is talking conveniently regarding the matter. In some states they are saying that NRC will not be implemented, while in some others they are saying that it will be implemented." He pointed out that in the ensuing Lok Sabha polls, BJP will be washed out so the question of implementing NRC will not come up.

Criticising the BJP leaders for using unparliamentary language, Chatterjee said: "It is most unfortunate that from Narendra Modi to Sayantan Basu, BJP leaders are using such filthy language which does not go with Bengal's political culture. BJP has created history through its use of obnoxious language."

Asked why Trinamool Congress leaders are going to the temples before starting their campaign, Chatterjee said: "It is because Trinamool is a secular party. We are visiting the temples, churches and mosques. Ask why BJP leaders are not visiting the churches or mosques. Secular persons respect people belonging to different religions, castes and creed, while the non-secular ones have no respect for people belonging to other religions."

He said that in the name of note ban, common people had been harassed. Many of them died in the queues waiting to withdraw their own money from the bank. "But Modi is silent on the issue. In the past five years, he did not call any press conference. However, he is spending crores of rupees for his own publicity," he added.

Criticising Shah for his statement that people were not allowed to vote in the Panchayat election, he said: "BJP is circulating lies but is never telling the truth that they have failed to field candidates in most areas."

Reacting sharply to the BJP leader's statement that Trinamool will be ousted from Bengal, he said: "The Assembly election will be held in 2021" and advised Shah to ensure that the party can deploy workers in the polling stations.

"The people of Bengal are with Mamata Banerjee, whom they trust. They have seen how she had launched movements to oust CPI(M). But BJP cannot launch any movement. They can only talk big to confuse people," Chatterjee added.