The draft list of the National Register of Citizens released by Assam, which has left out over 40 lakh who may lose their citizenship, is worrying and these people have become "refugees" in their own country, West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, said on Monday.
Assam's National Register of Citizens has been updated for the first time since 1951 to account for illegal migration from Bangladesh. Releasing the updated list, officials have maintained that none will be deported or arrested. And this is only a draft.
"This is divide-and-rule policy. People are being isolated... this will destroy humanity," Banerjee said in a press conference at the state secretariat.She will take up the subject personally with Home Minister Rajnath Singh. Banerjee, on Monday, left for a three-day trip to Delhi.
"Don't isolate them (the people). People have become refugees in their own country," she claimed. The repercussions of this step will also be felt in Bengal, which shares a border with Assam. And the Centre should have consulted the West Bengal government before taking “such a huge step”.
"This is clearly an attempt to push back Bengalis... where will these people go... what if Bangladesh doesn't take them?" Banerjee questioned.
She made it clear that protocol restricts her from speaking to Bangladesh Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina. However, she will definitely talk to the Opposition parties here and apprise them of the situation.
"In one strike so many have been turned into refugees... I appeal to the Home Minister not to isolate them... Don't play with fire when it's about humanity. Its a plan to throw out Bengali speaking people and Biharis. Consequences will be felt in our state also," Banerjee maintained.
Around 15 companies of central forces have been dispatched to prevent any unrest over the new list; while Banerjee claimed that social network and the Internet have also been suspended.
“People have valid Aadhaar cards and passports. Why are these people being left out of the NRC,” she further said.