08-07-2025
Systematic assault on democracy: CM on Assam NRC notice to Bengal man
Jalpaiguri/Kolkata: Calling the Assam govt's NRC notice to a Cooch Behar Rajbanshi resident a "systematic assault on democracy", CM Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday urged opposition parties "to stand up against BJP's divisive and oppressive machinery.
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"I am shocked and deeply disturbed to learn that the Foreigners Tribunal in Assam has issued an NRC notice to Uttam Kumar Brajabashi, 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 immigrant'," the CM wrote 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.
A premeditated attempt is 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 added.
"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," the CM wrote further.
Trinamool Congress threatened to take to the streets in protest. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh told reporters, "Consider this: a resident of Bengal is receiving a letter from Assam. Who has the authority? This is a conspiracy. Bengalis are being oppressed and anyone speaking Bengali is labelled a Bangladeshi. Brajabashi is a native of Bengal, a Rajbanshi.
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Now understand, those who engage in Hindu Kumar Brajabashi is Hindu, yet he received the circular.
Strong protests are ongoing against this and will continue."
After the CM posted on X, panchayat authorities of Brajabashi's village Chaudhurihat, along with Brajabashi and his family met Nitish Tamang, BDO of Dinhata Block 2. Four months ago, Brajabashi had applied for an SC certificate. He received the certificate on Tuesday.
Brajabashi told reporters he was relieved because of the support of the Bengal govt and CM Banerjee.
Brajabashi received a letter in Jan alleging that he had entered India from Bangladesh illegally through the Assam border between 1966 and 1971 and was residing in Dinhata's Sadiyal Kuthi area. Brajabashi maintains he was born in 1975 and has records to show that his father had been a Dinhata voter since 1966.
Trinamool MP Sagarika Ghose said, "It is highly disturbing to note that the BJP govt in Assam is sending demands for citizenship proof from an inhabitant of Bengal. This is totally unconstitutional and anti-democratic…They have targeted someone from the Rajbanshi community…We will not allow the divisive agenda of the BJP to divide and to target the most vulnerable and helpless sections."
