Mamata U-turn on referendum speech, says it was just a suggestion

Making a U-turn from her Thursday’s remark over UN-referendum on Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and nationwide National Register of Citizens (NRC), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday (December 20) said she had only suggested that an opinion poll to be conducted by impartial experts of the country, the process for which could be observed by the United Nations.

“I am proud of my country. I have full faith in my countrymen. What I had said was that a gana vote (opinion poll) be conducted by a panel of impartial experts and members of the national human rights commission. It can be observed by the UN,” she insisted.

Addressing a press meet, Banerjee also sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s intervention to ensure that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 was immediately revoked, contending that it was a matter of the country’s interests. She also urged the PM to withdraw the ‘anti-people’ law and plans to implement nationwide NRC.

“It is not about any political victory or defeat. It is a matter of our country. Withdraw CAA and NRC,” she said in her appeal to Modi.

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Reacting to Banerjee’s comments, Union Minister Prakash Javadekar demanded an apology from TMC supremo for suggesting a UN-monitored referendum on the amended citizenship law, which has sparked protests in the country.

“It is shocking that Mamata Banerjee is talking about referendum. Who is the UN body to monitor the referendum? This is an insult to the 130 crore people of the country and their mandate. Mamata should apologise,” Javadekar told reporters.

“CAA is about inclusion and not exclusion. There are some people who are causing confusion and are talking in favour of illegal immigration. They are talking the language of Pakistan. We are trying to reach out to people with the right concepts,” he said.

He said the citizenship law was enacted for Hindus migrating from Pakistan for the first time in 2003 when Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister.

“It was continued by the UPA government in 2004 and 2005. That time nobody opposed it. The same people are now talking against it. People should not get misled and avoid violence,” the minister said.

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When asked why Muslims have been excluded from the CAA, he said “Three neighbouring countries — Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan — are declared Islamic states. You cannot imagine a religious persecution of somebody on the basis of religion in Islamic state. People living in Bangladesh and Pakistan were a part of India only, they are originally Indian citizens. India was divided,” he said.

The minister also assured that the NRC will be implemented very smoothly and no Indian citizen will be deprived of their citizenship. “Everyone has Aadhaar. I can assure that whenever NRC happens, it will be so smooth and not a single Indian citizen will be deprived of his/her citizenship,” he said.

(With inputs from agencies)

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