West Bengal Assembly passed a resolution on Friday against the implementation of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in the state. Seven members of the BJP staged a walk out and said their party was in favour of its implementation.
Speaking in favour of the motion, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee termed the NRC as a dangerous exercise which broke all barriers of humanity.
"The NRC in Assam is because of the Assam accord. We have no such accord in our state," she said. She also criticised the Assam government over its plans to create several detention centres.
"It's violation of human rights. Even the Gorkhas have been mentioned as foreigners," said Banerjee.
The left parties and the Congress supported the resolution.
Interestingly, a few days back, when leader of opposition Abdul Mannan proposed such a motion, the Speaker refused to entertain it.
The Congress leader then said, "There must be some adjustment between the TMC and the BJP." He, however, supported Friday's motion that was moved by the TMC.
The BJP members who walked out said, "Our party would definitely bring the NRC in the state. It's part of our national plan."
BJP state vice president Biswapriya Roychowdhury said: "The issue of foreigners is a central issue and the state has nothing to say about it. It's all about national security and the foreigners issue is not a state subject. So it's immaterial whether state assembly approves it or not. The NRC will definitely happen in Bengal. Our government is committed to it."
Party state president Dilip Ghosh had earlier said that his party would be in favour of a quick implementation of the NRC in West Bengal.
