Agartala: The contentious Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) saw massive protests in several parts of the country after it was passed by Parliament in December 2019.
The protests fizzled out as COVID-19 pandemic set in, and CAA has remained in limbo despite multiple assertions from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and others in the government.
On Monday, Union Minister Shantanu Thakur claimed that CAA will be implemented across India within next seven days.
“I can guarantee that in the next seven days, not just in West Bengal, but the CAA will be implemented across India,” the minister of State for Shipping, Ports & Waterways said in Bengali while addressing a public gathering in West Bengal’s Kakdwip, in South 24 Parganas.
Thakur took a swipe at the Mamata Banerjee-headed Trinamool Congress government.
“This (West Bengal) government tells you that if you have a voter and an Aadhaar card, you’re a citizen of this country and can register your votes. If that is the case, then why do I hear that thousands of people here have been deprived of their right to vote? The chief minister has to answer why they have been deprived,” Thakur said.
CM Mamata hit back at Thakur’s remarks, saying the BJP wants votes by “scaring” everyone.
“They (BJP) are shouting CAA, this is politics. We have given citizenship to everyone (and) they (people of border areas) are getting everything. They are citizens, which is why they are allowed to vote,” Mamata said in Cooch Behar.
She also urged people residing in border regions not to accept the ‘identity cards’ offered by BJP.
“Don’t take the fake card. Tell them we have a voter ID card and an Aadhaar card. If you accept it, you will fall under NRC (National Register of Citizens),” Mamata advised.
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