NEW DELHI, Jan 27, 2020 (BSS) – The West Bengal assembly today
passed an Anti Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) resolution
appealing the union government to repeal the amended law and
revoke plans to implement National Register of Citizens (NRC) and
update National Population Register (NPR).
With the passage of the resolution, West Bengal became the
fourth state as similar resolutions have already been passed by
Left-ruled Kerala and Congress-ruled Punjab and Rajasthan state
assemblies.
Earlier, State Parliamentary Affairs Minister Partha
Chatterjee introduced the anti-CAA resolution in the House at
around 2 pm and later it was passed in the West Bengal state
assembly following discussion on the resolution.
“We won’t allow CAA, NPR, and NRC…We will fight
peacefully,” said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee while
taking part in the discussion in the state assembly mentioning
that, “This protest is not only of minorities but of all”.
“As per the CAA, you have to become a foreigner to become a
citizen… this is a terrible game, pushing people towards death.
Don’t fall into their trap,” media report quoted Mamata as saying
in the assembly. The congress and left parties supported the
government and voted for the resolution.
However, the lawmakers belonging to BJP opposed the resolution
and thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister
Amit Shah for the CAA to help refugees get their citizenship of
the country.
Kerala, which was the first state to pass a resolution against
the law, had invited other opposition-ruled states to follow suit
when the BJP has questioned the efficacy of such resolutions.
Despite countrywide protests against the CAA, the ruling BJP
declared that it would not overturn the law and that states are
constitutionally obligated to follow any law passed by the centre.
However, Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh said such a
resolution “represents the will of the people” as it comes through
their elected representatives.
The controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed in
both houses of Indian parliament last month with a provision to
grant citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh
and Afghanistan. The bill is aimed at providing citizenship to six
communities- Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists and
Parsis.
After the CAA was passed last month, protests continue across
the country demanding repealing of the act to what protesters said
“protect the constitution”.