Why compare India with Pakistan, are you their envoy? Didi asks Modi

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday (January 3) questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi frequently compares India with Pakistan. “Are you the prime minister of India or the ambassador of Pakistan,” she asked Modi, at an anti-Citizenship law rally in Siliguri.

Criticising the contentious legislation, Banerjee said it is a shame that even after 70 years of Independence, people have to prove their nationality. “India is a big country with a rich culture and heritage. Why does the PM regularly compare our nation with Pakistan?”

She further asked, “Has the prime minister forgotten about India that he needs to talk about Pakistan at regular intervals?” “Are you the prime minister of India or the ambassador of Pakistan? Why do you refer to Pakistan in every issue?” the chief minister said.

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She also accused the BJP of “deliberately” creating confusion over the implementation of National Register of Citizens (NRC), saying its leaders have been making contradictory statements on the issue.

“On one hand the prime minister is saying there will be no NRC but on the other, the union home minister and other ministers are claiming that the exercise will be conducted across the country,” the chief minister added.

She has also urged other political parties and all sections of the society to join her in opposing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the NRC. “I am fighting against NRC and CAA, join hands with me. I’m requesting all people to come forward to save our democracy,” she said.

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Banerjee has been a vocal critic of the new Citizenship law that seeks to provide Indian citizenship to religious minorities of Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh who have escaped persecution in their country because of their faith. She has organised several protest rallies against the legislation.

A day earlier, Prime Minister Modi had questioned the Congress and those protesting against the CAA for being “silent” over the persecution of minorities in Pakistan.

“Pakistan was founded on religious grounds due to which atrocities on minorities such as Hindus, Sikhs, Jains and Christians have increased. But Congress and its allies don’t speak against Pakistan,” he had said at a function in Karnataka’s Tumakuru on January 2.

(With inputs from agencies)