Mamata tears into BJP, refutes making 'civil war' remark

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday tore into the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and denied making the remark that the National Register of Citizens (NRC) draft in Assam will cause blood bath and civil war.

Coming down heavily on the BJP, the West Bengal Chief Minister said, that she is not bound to react on every comment made by the BJP, as she is not a servant of the party.

After meeting UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Congress President Rahul Gandhi at 10 Janpath here, the West Bengal Chief Minister continued her tirade against the BJP and said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led party is tensed because it knows that it won't retain power in 2019 polls.

"I am not BJP's servant to reply to any of their statements. I didn't say this (civil war remark), my concern is regarding the 40 lakh people whose names are not in the list (NRC). BJP is politically tensed because they know they won't come to power in 2019," said Banerjee, who has been trying to consolidate opposition unity, by meeting leaders of several parties.

On Tuesday, while speaking at an event, Banerjee gave a stern warning to the BJP that the draft list would divide the people and create a civil war-like situation in the country.

She reportedly said that the exclusion of 40 lakh people from the NRC may lead to "civil war" in the country.

An FIR has been registered against Banerjee at Lakhimpur Sadar Police Station by the Asom Jatiyatabadi Yuva Parishad today for her alleged offensive comments in the aftermath of the NRC draft row.

A case was registered under Sections 120B and 153A of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Banerjee has been consistently disapproving the latest NRC draft. Accusing the BJP of vendetta politics, she had said that the party was targeting people in the wake of general elections scheduled in 2019. She has also accused the BJP of conspiracy against minorities.

The draft list, which was released on July 30, left out nearly 40 lakh people in Assam, incorporating names of 2.89 crore people out of 3.29 crore applicants.

The first draft was published on December 31, 2017, and names of 1.9 crore of the 3.29 crore applicants were incorporated.

The NRC draft features the names, addresses and photographs of all Indian citizens, who have been residing in the northeastern state before March 25, 1971.