Assam News: The debate over the National Register of Citizens (NRC) has once again stirred political waters, this time reigniting tensions between Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Sarma, in a sharp response to Banerjee’s recent remarks, accused her of deliberately using NRC as a fear-mongering tool to sway Bengali voters ahead of the upcoming West Bengal Assembly elections. At a press conference in Guwahati, Sarma dismissed Banerjee’s apprehensions, stating, “Who has asked her to obey the NRC? She is speaking unnecessarily. She did not talk about NRC for the last five years. Only when elections approach, she raises these issues.”
Mamata Banerjee Raises Alarm Over Citizenship Concerns
Addressing a public gathering in Jhargram, Mamata Banerjee expressed deep concern over what she perceives as a calculated attempt by the “double engine government” (a term often used by opposition to refer to BJP-led state and central governments) to undermine the citizenship of Indian residents. “I am thinking, are we really independent? I hope our citizenship will not be snatched,” she said emotionally, suggesting that central agencies are selectively targeting Bengali-speaking citizens, including Hindu Bengalis, under the guise of NRC and voter verification drives.
Allegations of Disenfranchisement and Detention
Banerjee did not hold back from alleging that the NRC process is a tool being used to harass innocent people, branding them as illegal immigrants or Rohingyas. She claimed that in Assam, nearly seven lakh names, including many Hindu Bengalis, have already been removed from the voter list. “Indian residents are being pushed back to Bangladesh,” she said. Mamata’s concerns grew deeper with notices reportedly being served in districts like Cooch Behar and Alipurduar, and officials facing Election Commission action, which she believes is politically motivated.
Sarma Accuses Mamata of Creating Pre-Election Hysteria
Reacting strongly, CM Himanta Biswa Sarma emphasized that Banerjee’s sudden interest in the NRC is politically motivated. “She’s trying to create panic among Bengali voters just to gain electoral sympathy,” he stated. Sarma also questioned why the West Bengal CM remained silent on NRC for years and only brought it up when elections were near. According to him, there is no immediate NRC agenda in West Bengal, and such statements are misleading and meant to polarize voters.
A Broader Battle for Identity and Politics
The NRC debate has once again highlighted the deep political divide and the sensitive nature of identity politics in eastern India. While Mamata Banerjee continues to champion the rights of Bengali-speaking communities and promises resistance against what she terms as “targeted harassment,” Sarma and the BJP view these remarks as fear-based politics. As the countdown to West Bengal Assembly polls begins, the NRC controversy could emerge as a critical issue shaping political narratives and voter sentiment across the region. The ongoing verbal sparring hints at a high-stakes battle where citizenship, identity, and nationalism will likely dominate discourse.
