NRC Assam: State's TMC Chief Dwipen Pathak Resigns From Post; Slams Mamata Banerjee For Opposing NRC

Guwahati, August 2: In the latest development in the NRC row, Assam’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) Chief Dwipen Pathak has resigned from the post today. While speaking to the media, Pathak took a dig at TMC Chief Mamata Banerjee for opposing National Registar of Citizens (NRC). Pathak disagreed with Banerjee’s statement that NRC had been brought in Assam to drive out Bengalis. He alleged that the TMC chief’s statement might create disturbance in the state.

Pathak said, “What Mamata Banerjee said about NRC, that it had been brought in Assam to drive out Bengalis, I don't agree with that. It might create disturbance here & the blame would be on me as a president, so I've resigned from the post.” Pathak was the lone TMC MLA who served in the state assembly from 2011 to 2016.

Earlier in the day, A delegation of Trinamool Congress(TMC) was detained by the Assam Police at Silchar airport. West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim led the delegation. It comprised six MPs and one MLA. The delegation arrived in Assam to assess the ground situation following the release of NRC.

The West Bengal chief minister slammed the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) for detaining the delegation. She accused the government of using muscle power to oppress the opposition. Banerjee said, “These atrocities being done, aren't only being condemned, I think this is beginning of the end. They are frustrated; they are political tensed and depressed. And that's why they are showing muscle power.”

The final draft of Assam's NRC was released on July 30. Out of a total of 3.29 crore people, over 2.89 crore people found a place in the list as legal citizens of India. However, 40.07 lakh applicants did not feature in the NRC draft.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 02, 2018 06:54 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).