'Privacy of common people being breached by Modi govt'

Kolkata: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday came down heavily upon the Narendra Modi government at the Centre, alleging breach of privacy of common people.

"Now they are accessing your computer, internet, mobile phone and even bank-related data. Nothing is safe, as the privacy of people is being breached. Earlier we knew that privacy, democracy and secrecy are our rights but now, these rights are being taken away from us," Banerjee said during her address at the Khelashree programme organised by the state Sports & Youth Affairs department at Netaji Indoor Stadium on Monday.

Banerjee further alleged that the phone calls of journalists, judges and common people are being recorded and there can be a sting operation even when two persons are talking in their room. "If one thinks that he can control all machineries as he has the power then he is completely wrong," she warned.

Banerjee also slammed the Centre for the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and asserted that she would not allow anyone to implement NRC in Bengal. "If a person fails to furnish proof of his or her date of birth then he/she is being driven out in the name of NRC. These are all electoral gimmicks and you should not get bothered about it. As long as we are here, we will thwart all such attempts in Bengal," Banerjee reiterated.

She maintained that there are a number of people of her age in the state, whose parents do not have birth certificates. "If someone asks me to produce the birth certificate of my mother then I will not be able to do so, as the system was different earlier. I've written in my book that my official date of birth is not my original birthday. When I had asked my mother when I was born, she had told me that it was on the day of Durga Puja's Asthami," she said.

"No one can label genuine citizens as foreigners by asking for their proof of citizenship. All of us are citizens of this country," Banerjee added.

She also took a dig at BJP for not sparing sports from communalism. "Gurbux Singh (hockey Olympian) is here but have we ever questioned whether he is from Bengal or from Punjab? Has Dibyendu Barua been asked whether he belongs to Bengal or Assam? Has Shyam Thapa been asked whether he hails from the hills or plains? But they (BJP) are trying to create discrimination in all places in the name of religion," she said.