The Citizenship Amendment Act will be implemented in West Bengal and refugees staying in the state for 70 years will be granted citizenship if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) comes to power in Bengal, said Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Sunday.
Shah unveiled the BJP’s poll manifesto for the West Bengal Assembly elections on Sunday. Speaking at the event, Shah said, “We have decided to call our manifesto a Sankalp Patra. It is not just a manifesto but a resolution letter for West Bengal by the country’s largest party. We will create a Sonar Bangla.”
He further said, “The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) will be implemented in the first Cabinet meeting and refugees who have been staying here for 70 years will be given citizenship. Each refugee family will get Rs 10,000 per year for five years.”
The Union Home Minister further said the border will be strengthened to prevent infiltration. “We have decided that no infiltrators will be allowed in Bengal and border fencing will be strengthened,” added Shah.
Shah’s statement carries much significance as the West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has several times said that she would not allow the implementation of CAA and National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state.
West Bengal BJP chief Dilip Ghosh, party’s national general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya, Union Minister Debasree Choudhuri and party MP Nisith Pramanik were present at the event held at Eastern Zonal Cultural Centre in Salt Lake, Kolkata.
Meanwhile, in a rally in East Midnapore, Amit Shah assured voters that Bengal will be freed of infiltrators in five years and no one will stop residents from performing Saraswati and Durga puja when Bharatiya Janata Party comes to power.
He asked the voters to go out and cast their votes fearlessly. “Didi gave slogan of ‘Maa, Maati, Manush’, but did change come? Infiltration was there earlier and even now it is there. Do you want freedom from infiltrators? Can Didi give you freedom from infiltrators? We will make Bengal free of infiltrators in five years. If we are voted to power no one can stop you from performing Saraswati and Durga puja,” he said at the rally.
The Home Minister assured people that Trinamool Congress (TMC) “goons” are going to have a hard time and assured people that the electorate will not be stopped from voting this time. “Don’t be afraid. Goons of Mamata Banerjee will have a hard time. TMC goons won’t be able to stop you from voting,” he said.
Shah was accompanied by former TMC Member of Parliament (MP) Sisir Adhikari, father of Suvendu Adhikari, who is contesting against Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from Nandigram.
The former BJP national president also mentioned the alleged killing of 130 BJP workers by the TMC. “Our 130 cadres were killed. TMC goons should not think they will be spared. We will find them even in hell. We will take action when our government will come to power on May 2,” said the Union home minister.
Levelling allegations of corruption against Chief Minister, Shah further said the ‘cut money’ taken by the nephew is routed to Didi. “This government is epitome of corruption. Nephew’s cut money goes to Didi. Should this be stopped? Mamata Didi says what is the problem in giving Rs 500. Your money won’t go in cut money if we are voted to power,” he added.
Elections to the 294-member state Assembly will be held in eight phases starting from 27 March with the final round of voting taking place on 29 April. The counting of votes will take place on 2 May.