Why Bangladesh, not Nepal, Pakistan?

Mamata carpets Assam’s NRC

Between rounds of meeting with key opposition leaders in Delhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday continued her stinging criticism of the Assam citizens’ list.

“Calling all Bangladeshis ‘ghuspetis’  (intruders) is wrong... Bangladesh is not an illegal country,” said Mamata Banerjee, taking a dig at BJP chief Amit Shah, who had repeatedly used the term in his address to the media on Tuesday, reports NDTV from New Delhi.

Bangladesh and West Bengal not only share border, but also the language and culture, Ms Banerjee pointed out. “If the same continues... there will be bloodbath, there will be civil war,” she added, repeating on Tuesday’s warning that had led to the filing of a police case against her in Assam.

Illegal migration, the Chief Minister pointed out, is not an isolated or one-time issue or even one that only involves Bangladesh.

“After partition so many people came from Pakistan...  Nepal is also our neighbour... we must remember that. Borders are not with state governments but with the center,” she added, implying that the responsibility for securing the area also belongs to the Centre.

“Whoever is a BJP voter will be in the list... those who are not, will be deleted from the list... will you drive out everyone in the name of Bangladeshis?” said the Trinamool Congress chief, who is emerging as one of the key forces trying to stitch up a common front to take on the BJP in the next year’s assembly elections.

It was another dig at Amit Shah, who has accused her of seeing illegal immigrants as votebank.  The chief of the Bengal’s BJP unit has said if the party comes to power in the state, an Assam-style citizens’ register will be compiled in Bengal.  The Bengal, who is still seeing red over that remark, said let the BJP come to power in Bengal first.

Why Bangladesh, not Nepal, Pakistan?

Mamata carpets Assams NRC

Between rounds of meeting with key opposition leaders in Delhi, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee yesterday continued her stinging criticism of the Assam citizens list. Calling all Bangladeshis ghuspetis (intruders) is wrong... Bangladesh is not an illegal country, said Mamata Banerjee, taking a dig at BJP chief Amit Shah, who had repeatedly used the term in his address to the media on Tuesday, reports NDTV from New Delhi. Bangladesh and West Bengal not only share border, but also the language and culture, Ms Banerjee pointed out. If the same continues... there will be bloodbath, there will be civil war, she added, repeating on Tuesdays warning that had led to the filing of a police case against her in Assam. Illegal migration, the Chief Minister pointed out, is not an isolated or one-time issue or even one that only involves Bangladesh. After partition so many people came from Pakistan... Nepal is also our neighbour... we must remember that. Borders are not with state governments but with the center, she added, implying that the responsibility for securing the area also belongs to the Centre. Whoever is a BJP voter will be in the list... those who are not, will be deleted from the list... will you drive out everyone in the name of Bangladeshis? said the Trinamool Congress chief, who is emerging as one of the key forces trying to stitch up a common front to take on the BJP in the next years assembly elections. It was another dig at Amit Shah, who has accused her of seeing illegal immigrants as votebank. The chief of the Bengals BJP unit has said if the party comes to power in the state, an Assam-style citizens register will be compiled in Bengal. The Bengal, who is still seeing red over that remark, said let the BJP come to power in Bengal first.