india

Updated: Aug 01, 2018 09:39 IST

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and BJP president Amit Shah on Tuesday attacked each other over Assam’s National Register of Citizens (NRC), questioning each other’s commitment to national security.

“It (NRC) will be implemented to the last full stop and comma,” said Shah in Delhi at a press conference.

He condemned Banerjee for her statement that there could be civil war and bloodbath because of NRC. “She should clarify what kind of civil war she is talking about,” he said.

He alleged that Banerjee saw a “vote bank” in illegal immigrants while the BJP was looking at the security of the country and rights of its citizens.

“The BJP is committed to the national security and safety of its citizens. This is our top priority. All other parties should clear their stand,” he said.

He said the NRC is the soul of the Assam accord which the then Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi had signed and it clearly stipulates that every single illegal immigrant would be identified and his name struck off the voters list.

“I want to ask the Congress why you are questioning the NRC for vote bank. The Congress started the NRC process in 2005. But you lacked the courage to throw out illegal Bangladeshi immigrants because vote bank was important for you, not national security and rights of citizens,” he said.

Banerjee, who was speaking separately at a Christian conclave in Delhi, alleged that names of people having valid documents were not included in the NRC and the exercise had a political motive.

Banerjee accused the BJP of trying to divide people. “The situation cannot be tolerated. There will be a civil war, bloodbath in the country,” she said.

“You should not divide and rule. If a person has committed a crime, why should all institutions be raided by a particular political party? Look at what’s happening in Assam. This ruling party is in Assam. It is in power there because of its voters, but now it says that the same voters don’t belong to this country,” she said.

“You should not divide and rule. If a person has committed a crime, why should all institutions be raided by a particular political party? Look at what’s happening in Assam. This ruling party is in Assam. It is in power there because of its voters, but now it says that the same voters don’t belong to this country,” she said, referring to people whose names were excluded from the draft NRC.