'Mamata prioritised politics over national interests'

Tearing into West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday for her opposition to the Citizenship Amendment Act ( CAA) BJP working president J P Nadda accused her of ignoring national interest for vote bank politics. He accused the Chief Minister of inaction in relation to the violent protests in the state against the CAA.

“Mamata Ji you have always ignored national interest for the sake of your narrow vote bank politics,” said Nadda. He was addressing the gathering at the conclusion of well attended BJP rally in support of CAA.

Nadda further alleged that by opposing the CAA the Chief Minister was actually creating hurdles in the path of granting citizenship to Dalit Hindus in the state such the members of the Matua community who came to India from Bangladesh during Partition. Matuas are social-religious sect founded by 19th-century reformer Harichand Thakur in modern-day Bangladesh. They are a deciding factor in several Assembly constituencies of Bengal.

“We are granting Citizenship to Matuas (through CAA) who have come from Bangladesh. But Mamata Ji is opposing it. Tell me who is anti-Dalit here? She did it for appeasement and vote bank politics,” said Nadda.

He questioned Banerjee’s “appeal” to people not to indulge in violence while protesting against the CAA. Nadda alleged that despite being the Chief Minister and the Home Minister of the state she has taken no action on this regard.

“She is the Chief Minister and the Home Minister. She is running the Government. But not even once she condemned the violence. She has said that she made an appeal ( to those who indulged in violence). Does a Chief Minister only appeal or take action?,” said Nadda.

The BJP working president accused Banerjee of repeatedly opposing Central Acts just for the sake of securing her vote bank through appeasement politics.

He said whether its the abrogation of Article 370, banning instant Triple Talaq or the UAPA Banerjee has always opposed them for narrow political gains.

“But our Mamata di keeps saying ‘hobe na, hobe na’ ( will not let it happen, will not let it happen.” Why will you not let it happen?,” said Nadda.