Bangladeshis Living in Bengal, Casting Votes Are Indians: Mamata Banerjee

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Tuesday that people of India are those who have come from Bangladesh and have been voting in elections and they are not required to apply again for citizenship.

Mamata Banerjee slammed the Modi government over how the Delhi clashes, which claimed at least 46 lives, were treated and declared that she would not encourage West Bengal to become another Delhi.

"Those who come from Bangladesh are Indian nationals ... they have citizenship. You don't have to apply for citizenship again. You voted your ballots in polls, elected PM and CM ... Now they claim you're not people ... don't believe them," she said at a public meeting.

The chief minister also asserted she will not let "even a single person" be driven out of Bengal. She said no refugee, living in the state, will be deprived of citizenship.

Hitting out over the Delhi violence at the central government, the TMC chief said, "Don't overlook that this is Bengal. What happened in Delhi will never be allowed to happen here. We don't want Bengal to transform into another Delhi or Uttar Pradesh. '

The BJP has often accused Ms. Banerjee of "Muslim appeasement" and pandering to the interests of the minority community for "vote bank politics".

Source: NDTV