West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee Accuses BJP of Resorting to Politics of Killings

Banerjee alleged that BJP members were working in connivance with goons who had earlier served the CPI(M).

New Delhi: Continuing her attack on the saffron party, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of resorting to politics of killing in the state.

Address a rally in Kolkata, Banerjee alleged that BJP members were working in connivance with goons who had earlier served the CPI(M).

“The BJP won just a few seats in the erstwhile Maoist hotbed of Jangalmahal by resorting to politics of killing. The former CPI(M) goons are now working for them,” she said at a rally.

Continuing her attack over on National Register of Citizens (NRC) revision, the Banerjee said her government will not allow the exercise under any circumstances.

“We will not allow NRC exercise in Bengal. They (BJP leaders) are challenging us. If we are challenged, we will give them a fitting reply,” she said.

Earlier she had accused the saffron party of being anti-Bengalis. The chief minister also said that she would not “tolerate” if a citizen is wrongfully tagged a foreigner here.

“We are Bengal tigers, we will not tolerate if an Indian citizen is dubbed a foreigner,” she asserted.

Banerjee has been attacking the BJP government at the Centre over National Register for Citizens (NRC) which has excluded names of over 40 lakh citizens in the final draft for want of necessary documents in Assam.

Days ago, Mamata had accused the BJP government or resorting to “dive and rule” politics and had even warned that the Assam NRC issue could lead to “bloodbath” and “civil war” across the country.

The second NRC draft list was released on July 30 that included the names of 2.89 crore people out of 3.29 crore applicants in Assam. However, nearly four million people were missing from the list, which triggered panic among those excluded.

Clarifying on the same, the Centre had assured that no Indian citizen would be left out, and those excluded would be given all possible opportunities to get their concerns addressed, as per the due process.

(With PTI inputs)