Clothes don't determine views: Mamata hits back at Modi
Kolkata, Dec 17: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said a person's political views cannot be ascertained by his or her clothes, hitting back at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's comment that those indulging in violence over the citizenship law could be identified by their attires.
Alleging that the BJP government has failed to provide "roti, kapda aur makaan" to the people, she claimed that it is trying to snatch the rights of 10 lakh people via the NRC and amended Citizenship Act.
"The country is burning and they are talking about clothes.... Miscreants and commoners cannot be differentiated on the basis of attire or food habits. Clothes do not determine a person's political views," the Trinamool Congress supremo said at a protest rally - her second one since Monday.
Her comment came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a Jharkhand rally on Sunday said, "People who are setting fire (to property) can be seen on TV... They can be identified by the clothes they are wearing."
Violent protests against the amended Citizenship Act has been raging in several states of the country including West Bengal for the past few days. Agitators had set fire to trains, railway station complexes and buses in different areas of the state.
Banerjee claimed that the Centre stopped long-distance railway services in West Bengal over "one or two minor incidents" of violence.
"We have arrested more than 600 people (for creating trouble). I would request the railways and the central government to resume services," the chief minister said.
The arson and vandalism could be the handiwork of the BJP also, she said and urged the people not to fall prey to any provocation.
"Violence and arson will not be tolerated; police will take action against the culprits. These violent protests are undermining the very purpose of the protest," she said.
Blaming the Modi government for the country's worsening economic situation, she claimed that it has failed to provide the basic needs of a person like "roti, kapda aur makaan" but is planning to declare legal citizens as illegal immigrants.
Alleging that the BJP is trying to provide citizenship to 10,000 people and snatch the rights of nearly 10 lakh people through the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and the amended Citizenship Act, the TMC chief said she will not allow implementation of any of the two in West Bengal.
"You (BJP) are saying you will provide citizenship to those who have come to this country till December 14, 2014.
What will happen to those who are already citizens?" Banerjee said.
Questioning why do people need to produce their proof of citizenship even after 73 years of independence, Banerjee said many people do not have birth certificates as there was no institutional delivery years ago.
Alleging that the BJP was instigating trouble in the country, she said the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill was passed in a hurry in Parliament.
"They did not obey the Constitution while passing the Bill. They did not even inform MPs about the date of passing the Bill. So many MPs were not present in the Lok Sabha. But we were prepared for the Rajya Sabha. All our MPs attended," the chief minister said.
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He's crazy person: Himanta on Rahul alleging Assam CM misused state power to harass opponents
Bhubaneswar (PTI): Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma threw a "crazy person" barb at Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday after the Congress leader accused him of "abusing state power to harass his political opponents and critics".
Sarma, who arrived at the airport here before proceeding to Puri to pray at the Jagannath Temple, challenged Gandhi to make his passport details public and reveal which countries the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha had visited.
His scathing remarks came after Gandhi termed Sarma "most corrupt in the country" and said the Congress stood with Pawan Khera, who has alleged that the Assam CM's wife has multiple passports and offshore properties, which were not declared in the chief minister's election affidavit.
The Sarmas have rejected the allegations as false.
In a post on X, Gandhi alleged, "The present CM of Assam is the most corrupt in the country. He will not escape the law. His abuse of state power to harass his political opponents and critics is against the Constitution."
"The questions that are being raised have to be probed. Transparency, accountability of power and the rule of law are the basis of our Constitutional values. The Congress stands with Pawan Khera. We will not be intimidated," he has said.
Responding to reporters' questions over Gandhi's remarks, Sarma said, "Let me make it very clear, neither I nor any member of my family has a golden visa, as alleged. Rahul Gandhi is a crazy person."
"I challenge Rahu Gandhi to present his passport in front of the media, and I will bring mine and those of my family members. Let the media know who is visiting which country," Sarma said.
The Assam chief minister also said that Rahul Gandhi "is not God". "If I make allegations against him, will he be ready for a probe into those? He should know that others, too, have the right to ask him questions."
Asked about the Supreme Court staying the Telangana High Court's order granting Kehra one-week transit anticipatory bail in the case registered for levelling allegations against Sarma's wife, the BJP leader said he was not aware of it.
"However, according to me, the Telangana High Court cannot grant transit bail to Khera as he is not a resident of that state. The law will take its own course," Sarma said.
The senior BJP leader said he would join his party's election campaign in West Bengal from Thursday.
Later, in a post on X, he said, "On Assamese New Year, offered my prayers to Mahaprabhu Jagannath for Assam's continued peace and progress." Along with the post, he also shared a video of his visit to the temple.
