Kolkata: In a significant display of opposition, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to lead a major rally in Siliguri today, vehemently opposing the recent implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) by the central government. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), under Banerjee’s leadership, has been vocal in criticizing the CAA, labeling it as ‘unconstitutional and discriminatory’, a stance that echoes the concerns of several opposition parties across the nation.
The TMC has organized a roadshow in Siliguri, with Banerjee at the forefront, to express their dissent against the CAA-NRC. The roadshow is expected to commence from Mainak and conclude at Venus, as confirmed by West Bengal Minister Arup Biswas. This event is part of a series of protests that have been taking place since the central government’s announcement on March 11, which saw the CAA being brought into effect nationwide.
Banerjee, while addressing a gathering in Habra, North 24 Parganas district, reiterated her commitment to not implementing the CAA in West Bengal. She urged the citizens to deliberate carefully before applying for citizenship under the new law, hinting at potential repercussions.
The resistance to the CAA isn’t confined to West Bengal alone. Kerala has witnessed the onset of protests, and in Assam, a coalition of 30 tribal organizations and 16 political parties has risen in protest. The Assam Students Union (AASU) also marked their opposition with a 12-hour hunger strike. The CAA, which aims to provide fast-track citizenship to non-Muslim immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014, has sparked widespread debate and dissent across the country.
