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Kolkata, Jan. 20 (IANS): The West Bengal government is planning to pass a resolution in the state Assembly against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act in the next three-four days, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Monday and demanded that the provision seeking the birth certificates and parents place of birth be deleted from the NPR form.
She also appealed to the north eastern states not to participate in the National Population Register (NPR) exercise.
“We have also passed a resolution against National Register of Citizens (NRC) three months ago. We will pass a resolution against CAA also within three-four days,” Banerjee told mediapersons.
The CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala and Congress ruled Punjab have already passed resolutions in the respective state assemblies demanding scrapping of the controversial CAA.
Referring to the NPR, Banerjee pointed out that the form has a column seeking aA birth certificates and place of birth of parents.
“But now they (central government) are saying it is not mandatory. If it’s not mandatory, you withdraw. Why will it exist in the form?” he said.
“So there is an apprehension. First they have to withdraw all these clauses, all these conditions,” she said.
Banerjee requested the north eastern states and their chief ministers to go through the law carefully before taking any decision about NPR.
“Because in the name of so-called NPR, there are so many conditions, related to NRC. And I will request them not to participate in this matter, because the conditions are very bad,” she said.
The CAA, passed in the Parliament last month, seeks to provide Indian nationality to Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Parsis, Jains and Buddhists fleeing persecution in Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh before December 31, 2014.
As per the Act, such communities will not be treated as illegal immigrants now and will be given Indian citizenship.
The legislation, which has come into force on January 10, has led to countrywide protests, with students coming out on the streets in thousands in almost all the states. Civil society members, anti-BJP political parties and commoners have also joined the protests.
The north-eastern states, including Assam, have been on the boil, amid fear among indigenous communities that the law could give recognition to lakhs of immigrants who came from Bangladesh over the decades.
Won’t allow Constitutional machinery to collapse -- Kerala governor
Hours after Kerala Chief Secretary Tom Jose briefed Governor Arif Mohammed Khan on Monday about the reason why he was not informed about the state government’s plan to move the Supreme Court on the amended citizenship law, he said his view is that his approval is needed and no explanation will satisfy him.
Khan who was going out of the state met the media and said that he will not allow the collapse of the Constitutional machinery in the state.
“My view is, approval is needed. Even for argument sake, I will say information is required, if not it is unlawful. No explanation can satisfy me . It’s neither clash of ego or personal differences. None can violate the rule of law,” said Khan, but did not say what his course of action will be on this.
“The rules are very clear and it states when there is a case of a state government against the Centre/other states/ High Court or Supreme Court, then it’s the duty of the state government to inform the governor, if not it’s unlawful,” said Khan.
“I am only asking the rules of transaction of business and to go by rules. The Assembly frames rules and they are violating what they created. The business of the government is transacted under the Constitution and laws,” he said.
Khan also took on CPI-M general secretary Sitaram Yechury who had remarked on Sunday that the office of the governor should be scrapped.
“That’s for the people to decide and they should try for that. Yechury said this because he has not been able to find any fault in me. They are entitled to their view, but this is not the forum,” added Khan.
It was on Sunday that Khan sought an explanation from the Chief Secretary and on Monday, Tom Jose, drove straight after the emergency Cabinet meeting held at the State Secretariat, to the official residence of Khan.
The Governor’s Twitter handle also put out the picture of Jose meeting Khan.
Incidentally, after the cabinet meeting, Law Minister A.K. Balan for the second time in three days made it clear that the government has no intention to enter into any confrontation with the governor.
Though for now, things appear to have been brushed under the carpet, those in the know point out that this truce could be temporary as the opening Assembly session of the 2020 calendar year begins with Khan’s address to the House on January 30.
All eyes are on Khan’s address and already throwing a spanner in the works on Monday was Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala who asked the Pinarayi Vijayan government if CAA will be mentioned in the Governor’s address.