Why 1 crore people left out of NRC first draft, asks Mamata

Alipurduar: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded to know why the names of over one crore people did not figure in the first draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam and urged the people here to shelter them if they were forced to leave the north-eastern state.

She added that if there was any problem in Assam, as a neighbouring state, Bengal would also be affected.

She even asserted that the move was a ploy of the BJP to drive the Bengalis out of Assam and alleged that not only Bengalis but those from Bihar were also left out of the NRC.

In the same breath, the Chief Minister launched a scathing attack on the RSS and BJP for destabilising social and communal harmony and said an FIR had been lodged against a private school in Hooghly for making derogatory comments against Prophet Muhammad in a book.

Addressing a gathering at Parokata in Alipurduar, just nine km from the Assam border on Tuesday, she said: "I would like to ask my BJP friends that how long will they continue to spread canards, instigate riots and hatch conspiracies. They must learn that the people and the country can prosper only if peace prevails."

She also stated that people from Assam reside in Bengal too but are not driven out. "During unrests in the past, people from Assam have fled to Bengal and were provided safe refuge here. This time, if there is a similar situation, please provide safe shelter to them and do not drive them away," urged Banerjee, appealing to citizens residing in areas of the state bordering Assam.

She stated that people from other states reside in Bengal but are not persecuted. "There are many people from Gujarat residing in Bengal, but workers from my state are being killed in Gujarat, Rajasthan," retorted the CM.

Banerjee inaugurated administrative building "Dooars Kanya" in Alipurduar which will house different government departments. Along with this, she inaugurated 28 projects and laid the foundation stone for 30 new projects including a district hospital. Land documents (patta) were handed out to 1,000 beneficiaries.

Banerjee said she would inaugurate state-wide construction of another 7,500 km of rural roads on February 2. Roads will also be built in Kumargram and Kalchini.

Training guns at the BJP and RSS, Banerjee stated that in the name of NGOs, lies were being spread to incite people. She urged the Adivasis not to pay heed to such canards.