By Anwarulhaq Baig
KOLKATA—West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government over the reported mass deactivation of Aadhaar cards in the state, calling it a “sinister ploy” to deprive rightful citizens of welfare schemes and implement the controversial National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) ahead of Lok Sabha polls.
The CAA, a law passed by the Parliament on December 12, 2019, sparked nationwide protests due to concerns about its discriminatory nature and violation of the Constitution. Critics argue that the CAA violates the equality guarantee. The NRC, a register of Indian citizens in Assam first prepared in 1951 and updated in 2014, aimed to identify and deport illegal immigrants but faced criticism for being flawed. Though the Court suspended the Assam NRC, critics fear the CAA could be a precursor to a nationwide NRC that could potentially disenfranchise and deport millions.
Addressing a press conference on Monday at the state secretariat, Banerjee claimed that Aadhaar cards belonging to marginalized communities such as SCs, STs, OBCs and minorities were specifically being targeted in an “indiscriminate” manner. “Without any prior notice, Centre has arbitrarily undertaken a drive to deactivate Aadhaar cards of legitimate citizens of West Bengal. Most of them belong to SC, ST and minority groups who stand to lose access to essential welfare schemes,” she said.
Expressing concerns about the targeting of SCs, STs, and minorities, she asked “Is the BJP planning to first snatch the Aadhaar cards and later hand them the CAA? Suddenly what happened ahead of the elections? What is the planning behind this?”,
Banerjee revealed that several district administrations have been flooded with complaints from panic-stricken people unable to access benefits linked to Aadhaar like subsidized ration and pensions. “Overnight, vulnerable sections of society now face the spectre of being excluded from government schemes. Is this the Centre’s ploy to deprive the poor ahead of elections?” she questioned.
She received a letter from the Tapashili Federation, indicating that the Matua community and Namashudras had borne the brunt of the Aadhaar deactivation. Banerjee condemned this as “feudal behaviour” and promised to protect the Matua community.
Banerjee asserted that all targeted Aadhaar cards were legitimate and their deactivation was a gross violation of natural justice principles. “Neither were affected individuals given any hearing nor was State government taken into confidence. The unilateral drive reeks of feudal arrogance aimed at voter suppression,” she remarked.
Questioning the timing of the move, the TMC supremo said it was far from coincidence that Aadhaar deactivations were happening just before Lok Sabha polls. “Is this the BJP’s game plan to create panic and chaos in Bengal by wielding the citizenship matrix as a weapon against minorities and other communities?” she asked.
The chief minister wrote to PM Modi demanding answers over the arbitrary mass cancellations but has to receive a response. In her letter, she writes, “Is it just for the sake of depriving the eligible beneficiaries of the benefit or to create a panic situation among the people at large just before the ensuing Lok Sabha Elections? I am really shocked to see such an action of de-activation of Aadhaar cards in the State against the interest of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes and the poor section of the society. I thought of bringing it to your kind information.”
As the controversy unfolded, the Bengal BJP attempted to downplay the allegations. Matua leader and junior Union minister Shantanu Thakur in his X (twitter) handle, claimed that a technical fault led to the deactivation of some Aadhaar cards, resulting in non-functionality of associated bank accounts. He assured that the deactivation process had been halted, and affected cards would be reactivated in a few days.
However, remaining adamant in her stance, Mamata declared that the West Bengal government would not implement the NRC and promised to provide separate cards to those whose Aadhaar cards were deactivated. “Let this send a stern message to BJP – we will not allow detention camps or NRC to set foot in Bengal as long as I am CM. Come what may, TMC government stands by all legal citizens, unlike the Centre,” she asserts.
She also launched a dedicated grievance redressal portal for those struggling with deactivated Aadhaar cards. She emphasized the need for citizens to inform the state government through the “Aadhaar Grievance Portal of West Bengal Government.”
