Will Fight CAA Battle Alone: Mamata Banerjee To Skip Opposition Meet Convened By Sonia Gandhi

Cracks have appeared in the Opposition’s unity as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that she will skip the mega meeting convened by interim Congress president Sonia Gandhi. The meeting is scheduled to take place on January 13. News Nation has learnt that the West Bengal Chief Minister is upset with both the Left and the Congress because she thinks both the parties vandalised public property in the name of bandh. Sources in Trinamool said that Banerjee has said that she does not support such violence and she will not participate in something, which is related to the Left and the Congress.

The 24-hour nationwide strike by central trade unions in West Bengal on Wednesday was marked by incidents of violence and arson, blocking of railway tracks and roads by protestors trying to enforce the shutdown. Banerjee said "double standards" of the Left Front and Congress will not be tolerated. "I have decided to boycott the meeting convened by Sonia Gandhi on January 13 in New Delhi as I don't support the violence that the Left and Congress unleashed in West Bengal yesterday (Wednesday)," the chief minister said at the state Assembly. Sonia Gandhi has called a meeting of Opposition parties, including the Left, to discuss the situation arising out of violence on various university campuses and protests in the country over the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019.

Also Read: Bharat Bandh: Banking, Transport Services Hit, Life Disrupted In Bengal, Kerala

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday assured the people of the state that she will not allow anyone to snatch their rights. While addressing a public rally in South Bengal, Mamata launched a scathing attack against the Modi government over the Citizenship Act and National Registration Act (NRC) and said that the state government will not allow snatching of people's rights.

Calling herself as ‘Pehredar’ of people, Mamata Banerjee warned the Centre that they will have to implement the Citizenship Act over her dead body. “I am your pehradar (custodian), if anyone comes to take away your rights, they will have to do it over my dead body,” Mamata said. “We do not live at the mercy of anyone, will not allow snatching of people's rights,” she added.

Also Read: ‘Shame On You And Your Might’: Mamata Banerjee Attacks Centre Over CAA In A Strong-Worded Poem

In a shocking development, a plea was filed in the Supreme Court on Monday demanding removal of Mamata Banerjee as the Chief Minister of West Bengal. News Nation has learnt that a journalist named Varaaki had filed the petition in the top court on Monday. the petition filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar to remove Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The plea said that Banerjee should be removed from the post for demanding a United Nations-monitored referendum on CAA, NRC. The plea said that such a demand was in violation of her oath of office and “showed the Chief Minister ceases to believe in the sovereignty and Integrity of India.”

On December 19, at a rally, Banerjee had said that, "If BJP has guts, it should go for a UN-monitored referendum on the amended Citizenship Act and NRC". "If the BJP loses this mass vote, then it should step down from the government," she added. Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minster Amit Shah, she said, "Let's have a vote. Just because you are majority, you can't do just about anything. You are terrorising all, the pillars of society".

While the petition in the Supreme Court may be new, Banerjee’s scathing attack against the Centre over the CAA is old. The West Bengal Chief Minister has been one of the most vocal critic of the citizenship law. At a rally on January 3 in Siliguri, Banerjee had asked why PM Modi frequently compares India with Pakistan. “India is a big country with a rich culture and heritage. Why does the PM regularly compare our nation with Pakistan? Are you the prime minister of India or the ambassador of Pakistan. Why do you refer to Pakistan in every issue," the Chief Minister asked.