JOIN USWest Bengal Assembly passes resolution against CAA
West Bengal Assembly on Monday passed a resolution against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). The resolution tabled by the state government demanded that the Centre should scrap CAA along with NPR and NRC. West Bengal became the fourth state after Kerala, Rajasthan, and Punjab to pass a resolution against the CAA.
Addressing the House, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee described CAA as “against the Indian Constitution and humanity” and demanded that the Centre must repeal it.
“We want CAA to be repealed immediately. We also want the NPR to be scraped,” said Banerjee.
She urged the Left Front and Congress to set aside differences and unite to fight for the interest of the country. She also urged them not to indulge in baseless criticism of her government. The Left Front and Congress supported the resolution.
However, the BJP legislative party opposed the resolution and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for enacting the CAA.
The resolution cited four reasons to repeal the CAA. First, it stated that by using religion as a criterion for applying for citizenship the CAA has created severe unrest almost in every state including West Bengal.
Second, it stated that despite issuing notification for NPR, the Centre has not issued any guidelines about NPR and NRC which has created severe panic in the country with regard to citizenship.
Third, it pointed out that the House on September 6, 2019, passed a resolution against NRC in West Bengal.
Fourth, it stated that the Hose from media reports has come to know that the Prime Minister has said that the CAA will not take away anyone’s citizenship. It further stated that since this has not been mentioned in CAA it has created confusion.
The Left Front and Congress submitted several amendments to the resolution but they were all rejected.
CAA has become the bone of contention between the Chief Minister of West Bengal and BJP. She has also been at loggerheads with the Centre over NPR.