Has CM Mamata Changed Her Stance on Illegal Infiltration?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Amit Malviya accuses Mamata Banerjee of changing her stance.
- Over 1.7 million duplicate voters reported in West Bengal.
- Mamata's past statements were highlighted as contradictory.
- Political implications could shape upcoming elections.
- Malviya claims Mamata is defending illegal infiltrators.
Kolkata, July 16 (NationPress) Amit Malviya, the chief of BJP’s Information Technology cell and the party’s central observer for West Bengal, on Wednesday, accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of altering her position on illegal infiltration since the Trinamool Congress took power in the state in 2021, following the ousting of a 24-year-long Left Front administration.
Mocking Mamata Banerjee’s earlier remarks claiming bias from the Election Commission of India (ECI), Malviya highlighted her previous statements made as a Lok Sabha member in which she described infiltration in West Bengal as a disaster.
West Bengal reportedly has more than 1.7 million duplicate voters—an issue the BJP has raised formally with the ECI on two occasions. Ironically, Mamata Banerjee herself addressed the Lok Sabha on August 4, 2005, stating, "The infiltration in Bengal has become a disaster now… I have both the Bangladeshi and Indian voters' lists. This is a very serious matter. I would like to know when it will be discussed in the House?"
Yet, 20 years later, Mamata Banerjee has not provided the alleged Bangladeshi voters list. "What is she hiding?" questioned Malviya in a statement shared on his official X handle.
Malviya further criticized Mamata Banerjee for defending illegal infiltrators, which he claims undermines democracy and deprives genuine voters in Bengal of their rights.
“Forget what the Special Intensive Revision might reveal starting August 1—ultimately, it will be the people of Bengal who will expose and defeat her in 2026,” he added.
His comments followed Mamata Banerjee’s address to a crowd in another area of Kolkata, where she concluded a rally protesting against the alleged selective harassment of Bengal-speaking individuals in other states, branding them as illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators.
In response to the Trinamool Congress protest rally, Malviya shared another X message, accusing Mamata Banerjee of shamelessly attempting to represent illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators and Rohingyas as Bengalis. He argued that this is an insult to Bengal’s rich cultural and historical heritage.
“True Bengalis will never accept this dangerous and deliberate attempt at cultural imposition. Her nefarious plot will be resisted at every step. Bengal’s identity is not up for political bargaining,” Malviya concluded.