Mamata pens poem, words echo plight of 40 lakh Assam citizens

Kolkata: After coming down heavily on BJP for omitting the names of 40 lakh people from the final draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written a poem to express her solidarity with the helpless citizens who have fallen victims to the move.

Banerjee had sent eight MLAs and MPs to meet the people on last Thursday. But the Assam government did not allow them to go out of the Silchar Airport by promulgating prohibitory order under Section 144 CrPC. Banerjee, who was in Delhi at the time, did not hide her feelings and on reaching Kolkata Airport last Friday, had told newsmen that "Super Emergency" was going on in the country.

Banerjee, with a natural flair for poetry, has always believed that the pen is mightier than the sword and through her poem, has vehemently criticised the divisive and anti people policy of BJP.

The arrogance of BJP leaders and their tendency to brand those who do not corroborate their views as "anti-national", is the central theme of the poem. From the Prime Minister's Mann Ki Baat to forcible introduction of Aadhar card, every aspect of BJP's rule has appeared in the poem. She has also mentioned the "action" against the section of media which writes against the ruling party.

"Do you listen to Mann Ki Baat? Do you write against the ruler? Does your phone have Aadhar? Are you a member of the Pay B-Team? Have you registered all documents? Are you against the oppressor? Then there is no place for you. Then you are an extremist..." are a few lines from the Chief Minister's poem.

BJP's divisive policy on the food habits and religion of citizens which have even led to the death of people in different parts in the country, has also been highlighted by Banerjee.

"What kind of food do you take? Where all do you go? Do you belong to different religion? Are you a Dalit? Are you a Christian? Are you a minority? You don't support Ravana? Then you go to solitude," reads the poem.