CM alerts MLAs ahead of Ayodhya verdict, slams religion-based NRC

Kolkata: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has asked Trinamool MLAs to not stick their necks out on the Ayodhya verdict. The CM told her MLAs she will do the talking after the verdict is out. “We don’t know what the verdict is going to be. Let the verdict come. I will say whatever we need to say,” the CM said in a meeting with party MLAs held at Trinamool Bhavan on Thursday.

Banerjee told her MLAs to maintain peace. “Everyone is appealing for peace though we don’t know what will be there in the verdict. Stay calm because unity and integrity are important aspe-cts of our country,” she said.

The CM then emphasised her aversion to religion-based politics to reiterate her dissent against the proposed NRC exercise. “Religion and caste can’t be the foundation of a society. I do not support religion-based NRC,” the CM said, pointing to the Nehru-Liaquat Treaty signed between the heads of India and Pakistan in 1950 that protects the rights of minorities.

The CM wondered why refugees from East Pakistan and Bangladesh have to prove their citizenship when they have become national citizens of India. “Why should refugees from Bangladesh have to prove their citizenship? They have already gained it,” the CM said.

Banerjee has been harping on the Bengali sub-nationalism against efforts to divide people on the lines of religion and caste.

“We will observe Nabi Divas on November 10 and celebrate Guru Nanak’s birthday on November 12. The Bangladesh Prime Minister is coming to Bengal on November 22. Sourav (BCCI president Sourav Ganguly) has invited me to the programme,” she said.

The Trinamool chief will be touring Murshidabad, Malda and Uttar Dinajpur on November 18, 19 and 20 in the run-up to the assembly bypolls at Uttar Dinajpur’s Kaliyachak.

The chief minister didn’t go for a Cabinet shuffle. She told lawmakers that an MLA from SC/ST category will soon be inducted soon.

Minister Rajib Bandyopadhyay has been put in charge of Nadia and Uttar Dinajpur and minister Moloy Ghatak was made observer of Bankura, replacing transport minister Suvendu Adhikari. Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee has been made special observer.

Later, when asked about the absence of Trinamool MLA from Raidighi Debashree Roy, the chief minister said: “I won’t comment.”