New Delhi: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday said the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would be implemented once the Covid-19 pandemic subsided while accusing the ruling TMC in West Bengal of "spreading canards" about the legislation. Addressing a rally in Bengal's Siliguri, Amit Shah said, "I want to make it clear that the Trinamool Congress is spreading rumours that the CAA will not be implemented. I want to say that as soon as the Covid wave abates we will implement CAA on the ground."
"CAA was a reality and it will remain a reality and the Trinamool cannot do anything about it," Amit Shah said.
Reacted to Amit Shah's statement, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said, "This is their plan. Why are they not bringing the bill to Parliament? They are not coming in 2024, I am telling you. We don't want any citizens rights to suffer. Unity is our strength. He has come after one year. Har baar aate hain ganda baat karte hain (Every time they come they talk rubbish)."
The Citizen Amendment Act (CAA), which saw widespread protests across the country in 2019, facilitates granting of Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim minorities of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
The Citizenship Amendment Act was passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019 and it received Presidential approval the next day. Subsequently, it was notified by the Home Ministry. However, the law is yet to be implemented as rules under the CAA are yet to be framed.
The Home Minister also asserted that the BJP would not rest till it uprooted the tyrannical rule of the TMC and restored democracy in Bengal. He also said that the saffron party would continue to fight against the cut-money' culture (extortion), corruption and political violence.
"We had hoped that Mamata Banerjee would rectify herself after being voted to power for the third time. We waited for an entire year for her to rectify herself, but she didn't change. It is the ruler's law that prevails in the state," he stated.
At another rally in North 24 Parganas district, Shah lashed out at infiltrators, saying "it is difficult to stop infiltration and smuggling without the support of the local administration".
"The BSF has to ensure that borders are impregnable. It is their constitutional right to protect the frontiers. But it is difficult to stop infiltration and smuggling without the support of the local administration," Amit Shah said.
"However, we have faith that soon a political situation would come up wherein you will get that support due to public pressure. Everybody will be forced to extend all support," Shah said while addressing a BSF programme.
Earlier, Shah inaugurated BSF's 'floating' border posts and a ship ambulance at Hingalganj in Sunderbans area of North 24 Parganas district. The Union Home Minister has come to West Bengal for the first time after the 2021 assembly elections in the state.