Citizenship Act Will Not Be Implemented In Bengal, Says Mamata Banerjee, Urges People To Maintain Peace

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday urged the people of the state to maintain peace and not to take law into their own hands. The protests over the amended Citizenship Act reached the shores of West Bengal with agitators resorting to violence and arson at railway stations and thoroughfares across the state, seeking immediate revocation of the law.

The legislation has put the Northeast on boil as people fear that it may exacerbate the problem of illegal immigration, while Muslims across the country apprehend that the move could be a precursor to the country-wide implementation of the National Register for Citizens (NRC).

While addressing a rally, Mamata Banerjee said that Bengal will not implement the Citizenship Amendment Act and National Register of Citizens (NRC). She also released a statement earlier where she warned of a strict action amid violent agitations and vandalism in several places across the state by people protesting against the amended Citizenship Act.

She appealed to people to maintain calm and protest democratically.

“Do not take up law in your hand. Do not put up road blockades and rail blockades and create trouble for the common people on the roads,” Banerjee said in a statement released from the chief minister’s office.

“Do not cause damage to government properties. Strict action would be taken against those who are found guilty in creating disturbances,” the statement quoted her as saying.

She also reiterated that the amended Citizenship Act and the proposed country-wide NRC will not take effect in the state.

“It is my request, don’t create confusion among people,” she said.