Systematic assault on democracy: Mamata after man in Bengal gets Assam Foreigners' Tribunal notice
Kolkata, Jul 7 (PTI): Alleging that it was a systematic assault on democracy, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday hit out at the BJP after a Foreigners' Tribunal in Assam served a notice to a farmer from West Bengal's Coochbehar, declaring him an illegal migrant.
Urging the opposition to unite against what she called the BJP's "divisive and oppressive machinery", Banerjee alleged that it was proof that the ruling dispensation in Assam was attempting to implement NRC in West Bengal, where it holds no power or jurisdiction.
"I am shocked and deeply disturbed to learn that the Foreigners Tribunal in Assam has issued an NRC notice to Uttam Kumar Brajabasi, a Rajbanshi, resident of Dinhata in Cooch Behar for over 50 years. Despite furnishing valid identity documents, he is being harassed on suspicion of being a 'foreigner/illegal migrant'," she said in a post on X.
"This is nothing short of a systematic assault on democracy. It is proof that the ruling BJP dispensation in Assam is attempting to implement NRC in Bengal, where it holds no power or jurisdiction," she added.
Banerjee claimed that a premeditated attempt was being made to intimidate, disenfranchise, and target marginalised communities.
"This unconstitutional overreach is anti-people, and exposes BJP’s dangerous agenda of bulldozing democratic safeguards and erasing the identity of Bengal's people," she alleged.
"This alarming situation calls for urgent unity among all Opposition parties to stand up against BJP's divisive and oppressive machinery. Bengal will not stand by as the constitutional fabric of India is torn apart," she said.
The chief minister's statement came a day after the farmer told reporters that he had never stepped out of Coochbehar and was stunned to receive the notice labelling him an illegal immigrant.
The state BJP had earlier blamed the Mamata Banerjee-led government for irregularities in documentation for the incident.
It had claimed that many illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have obtained forged Indian documents and are now being passed off as legitimate citizens.
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Rickelton's ton in vain as SRH beat MI by 6 wickets
Mumbai (PTI): Ryan Rickelton's whirlwind unbeaten ton was overshadowed by Heinrich Klaasen's unbeaten 65 as Sunrisers Hyderabad defeated Mumbai Indians by six wickets in an IPL match here on Wednesday.
Chasing an imposing 244-run target, Travis Head (76 off 30) and Abhishek Sharma (45 off 24) shared 129 runs for the opening wicket to set the platform for SRH.
Klaasen (65 not out off 30 balls) then displayed his all-round hitting abilities to guide SRH home with the help of Nitish Kumar Reddy (21) and Salil Arora (30 not out off 10) in 18.4 overs.
Earlier, Rickelton's knock powered MI to 243 for five.
MI rode on a 93-run stand between Rickelton (123 not out off 55 balls) and Will Jacks (46 off 22) in 7.1 overs for the opening stand to power the side.
MI skipper Hardik Pandya scored a valuable 31 off 15 balls before being dismissed.
Praful Hinge (2/54), Eshan Malinga (1/29), Sakib Hasan (1/39) and Nitish Kumar Reddy (1/31) were the wicket-takers for SRH.
Brief Scores:
Mumbai Indian: 243 for 5 in 20 overs (Ryan Rickelton 123 not out; Praful Hinge 2/54).
Sunrisers Hyderabad: 249 for 4 in 18.4 overs (Travis Head 76, Heinrich Klaasen 65 not out; AM Ghazanfar 2/51).
