‘BJP Shouting CAA For Sake Of Votes’: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee’s Swipe At Modi Govt

Banerjee accused the Centre of bringing up the CAA issue for political gains ahead of the LS polls. She argued that the BJP's focus on the controversial act is a strategic move to garner support.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (File Photo)

Source : PTI Images

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday, claiming that the party has resumed crying "CAA CAA" for votes as the Lok Sabha elections approach.

"We fought against the NRC. Rajbanshis are citizens of India. They have again started shouting CAA, CAA for the sake of votes," Mamata Banerjee said at a public distribution programme in Cooch Behar, West Bengal, on Monday.

Banerjee's comments came after Union Minister Shantanu Thakur announced on Sunday that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) would be implemented nationwide in a week.

Banerjee emphasised the importance of being listed in the voters' registry, particularly urging Rajbanshis in Cooch Behar to ensure their names are included. She suggested that this step would help protect individuals from potential repercussions related to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act or CAA.

Banerjee said: "Please enrol your name in the voters' list. So that Delhi cannot get a chance to throw out you of the state". 

Banerjee also raised serious allegations against the BJP, accusing them of "threatening people" to influence voters ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections. Speaking at the public distribution program in Cooch Behar, Banerjee claimed that the BJP is resorting to threats, warning people that the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) will be sent to their homes if they do not vote for the saffron party.

"The BJP is using central agencies for elections... it is threatening people over the phone to send Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sleuths to their homes if they do not vote for the saffron party," Banerjee asserted, addressing the crowd.

In her address, the West Bengal chief minister also took a swipe at the BJP's approach to religion, stating, "I will not follow any diktat of the BJP to worship any particular god. I follow Ramayana, Quran, Bible, and Guru Granth Sahib... I do not do drama by visiting poor people's homes to eat food brought from outside."