New Delhi: Launching a scathing attack on the BJP-led Central government, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee urged the people in the state to vote, claiming that if they fail to cast their ballot, their name will be removed from the Aadhaar card.
Addressing an election rally in Murshidabad on Saturday, CM Banerjee said, “Those who have come home during the month of Ramadan, the migrant workers, should not fail to vote. If you don't vote, your name will be removed from the Aadhaar card in the future, and you will be included in the NRC. You will be included in the CAA. Don't give them (Centre) this opportunity.”
Suggesting that CAA was a “trap”, CM Banerjee said, “The moment you apply under CAA, you will become a foreigner. You will be in trouble. Those who do not have a ration card, those who do not have an Aadhaar card, do not be afraid. After the elections, if needed, we will take it up with the Centre. Wherever you reside, where you work, that is your identity."
Opposing her statement, BJP state general secretary Jagannath Chatterjee said, "She cannot decide for herself when to say what. Sometimes she says she will oppose NRC. Sometimes she says she will oppose CAA.”
Addressing another public gathering in Gajol, Malda district, in support of the Malda Uttar TMC candidate Prasun Banerjee, Mamata Banerjee, claimed that the Election Commission deliberately scheduled the Lok Sabha elections in seven phases to allow Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his cabinet members to extensively campaign across the nation using public resources.
She asserted that the election dates from April 19 to June 1 were strategically chosen to benefit PM Modi and his colleagues as it would enable them to travel on special aircraft throughout the country before each phase of voting, aiming to overpower the Opposition parties.
"On earlier occasions, elections used to be over by May but this year, it has been extended till June 1 to enable Modi to visit various places on military planes, while we are made to arrange for our own transport, including helicopters, which are also being booked by BJP leaders so that we get little space," she added.