FILE - BJP state president Dilip Ghosh (L) at a press meet at BJP office in Kolkata. (TOI photo by Subhojyoti ... Read More

KOLKATA: The BJP on Monday criticized chief minister Mamata Banerjee ’s claim that the Central government is trying to divide and rule through National Register of Citizens (NRC). The party's state president Dilip Ghosh said that if voted to power, his party will have a separate NCR for West Bengal and push the illegal immigrants out of the country.

“NRC was a decision of the Congress government and is now being monitored by the Supreme Court. How can the BJP government be held responsible for that,” BJP state president Dilip Ghosh said. The Supreme Court had earlier said that if anybody’s name is not included in the draft NRC for Assam , would be scrutinised and added in the subsequent list.

Assam, which has seen an influx of people from Bangladesh, is the only state having an NRC. The list was updated now. “If we come to power in the state, we will have a separate NRC for West Bengal. Those who will not have their names in the NRC, will be pushed out. The illegal immigrants should better be ready for that,” Ghosh said.

Pradesh Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said that a lot of Bengalis settled in Assam have been facing trouble with the verification of their family tree in West Bengal. “Anyone with origin in West Bengal and residing in Assam now need to acquire legacy certificate from the state. But the state government has not been cooperating with them,” Chowdhury said.

Chowdhury, who is a member of the Joint Committee on Bill to Amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, said that the central government is showing duality in their attitude towards the people. “The central government is trying to bring bills to provide citizenship to those who are outside the country. They, on the other hand are trying to throw out son of the soil,” he said.

