Mamata supports Hazarika’s son over Citizenship Bill

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday supported the stand of Bhupen Hazarika's son Tej against the Citizenship (Amendment) bill.

Earlier, Tej said that the bill was against Hazarika's documented position. Hazarika has been posthumously awarded the Bharat Ratna this year.

"We have great respect for Bhupen Hazarika. We appreciate his family sentiment regarding the Citizenship (Amendment) bill," Mamata told journalists at the Kolkata Airport before leaving to New Delhi.

She also said that the Centre should have a better understanding of the sentiments of the people of the Northeast and pointed out that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has opposed the bill from the beginning.

"The Modi government should have a better understanding of the feelings of Northeastern people. We (the TMC) are the party which opposed the bill from the beginning. As per the Citizenship Amendment bill one will first be asked to become a foreigner for the six years and then they (Centre) will decide whom to award citizenship," she said.

The chief minister also said that why people who are already citizens should apply for citizenship again.

Mamata also slammed the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh for stopping former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav from going to Pryagraj at the Lucknow Airport.

Akhilesh was scheduled to attend a programme of Allahabad University student's union.

"If in Yogi-Raj a former chief minister cannot move freely then just imagine the obstructions faced by everyone else, Jignesh was also invited to a college programme and was threatened by BJP goons," she said.

Without mentioning the BJP, Mamata accused the party of destroying the unity of the country and indulging in hate politics.

"These people (the BJP) are destroying the unity of the country. They are indulging in hate politics and are misusing agencies." she said.

The West Bengal chief minister slammed the Uttar Pradesh government for incidents of lynching in the name of cow protection.

"In their own state, police gets murdered when performing their duty. People are getting lynched in the name of Gow Raksha," she said.