West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has issued a dramatic and defiant pledge, stating she will never allow the National Register of Citizens (NRC) or detention camps to be implemented in her state. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo made these strong remarks while directly attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during a public rally.
A Defiant Stand in Murshidabad
The Chief Minister delivered her scathing critique on Thursday while addressing an anti-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) rally in Murshidabad district. She emphasized the historical significance of the region, noting that its people do not engage in divisive riot politics. In a powerful declaration reported by PTI, Banerjee stated, "I will not allow NRC or detention camps in Bengal. Even if they slit my throat, no one will be driven out." This statement underscores her unwavering opposition to citizenship verification exercises she deems exclusionary.
Accusations of Religious Politics
Banerjee escalated her attack by accusing the BJP of playing religious politics over the SIR exercise. In a significant claim, she asserted that more than half of the individuals who died in incidents related to the SIR were Hindus. "The BJP is indulging in religious politics over Special Intensive Revision (SIR). More than half of those who died in SIR-related incidents were Hindus. Don’t cut the very branch you are sitting on," she cautioned the ruling party at the Centre. This argument is aimed at countering the BJP's narrative and highlighting alleged contradictions in its approach.
The Political Context and Implications
The Chief Minister's vehement opposition sets the stage for a major political confrontation between the TMC and the BJP in West Bengal. Her speech, framed as a protective stance for all residents of Bengal, is a clear attempt to consolidate her political base and position herself as the primary bulwark against policies she labels as discriminatory. The rally in Murshidabad, a district with a complex demographic profile, was a strategically chosen venue to amplify this message. Banerjee's rhetoric signals that the debate over citizenship documentation and alleged detention camps will remain a central and heated issue in the state's political discourse, with her party drawing a firm line in the sand.
