Speaking at a public distribution programme in Birbhum, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader attacked the central government and said, “I am telling the people of Bengal, don’t be afraid. I am here. I will not allow any scheme in Bengal to be linked with the Aadhaar card.”
“First the Centre insists on this card. Then suddenly it cancelled many cards without informing anyone. I know some cards were cancelled in Burdwan, some people’s cards were cancelled in Birbhum, some were cancelled in both 24 Parganas. This is the conspiracy of the Centre… so you won’t get the advantage of social schemes,” Mamata said.
She added, “Whether Aadhaar is there or not, no project or facility of the state government will be stopped. The Aadhaar cards of many in the state have been cancelled. But I want to tell the people of Bengal, don’t be afraid. From now, I will not allow Aadhaar to be added to any scheme of the state.”
The chief minister directed the Chief Secretary B P Gopalika to start a portal on which people can file complaints regarding Aadhaar cancellation. “After getting complaints, we will take proper measures,” she added.
Mamata also spoke about the recent Sandeshkhali issue in which TMC leaders have been accused of land grabbing and harassment of women. “No one lodged an FIR. I told the police to lodge a suo motu FIR. Our officers will go there and talk to the people and then will take necessary action. If anything has been snatched from the people, it will be returned. Already, the police arrested our zila parishad members and the law will take its course. But the BJP is trying to create unrest there. First, they sent the ED and now the BJP is trying to incite a riot,” she said.
The TMC chief also slammed the BJP-led central government and said that they have resorted to raising the issue of the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) before the Lok Sabha elections. “There is a plot to do NRC again. The polls will be announced within a month, before which plans are underway to remove names from the voter list. Before the announcement of the election, you all check your name in the voter’s list,” she reminded.