Mamata slams Centre for 'deactivating Aadhaar cards' ahead of Lok Sabha polls, BJP responds

Addressing a presser at her office Nabanna, Mamata accused the Centre of depriving people belonging to the Scheduled Caste, Scheduled Tribe and Other Backward Class communities of "democratic rights" by allegedly deactivating Aadhaar cards.

She said, "Why are they playing this dirty game? I am asking the BJP. Do you think it is proper? Do you think you are giving justice to the people? You are snatching the democratic rights, the beneficiaries' rights."

Mamata has accused the Centre of deactivating the Aadhaar cards to precede implementation of National Register of Citizens (NRC).

The Chief Minister said, "We will not allow NRC in Bengal. Please remember. We are ready to give our blood but we are not going to exclude any individual from Bengal."

Later, the Chief Minister also sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the same.

Sharing the letter on her X handle, Mamata said, "I vehemently condemn the reckless deactivation of Aadhaar cards, particularly targeting SC, ST and OBC communities in West Bengal.

"The Centre's unilateral decision to deactivate Aadhaar cards without any prior investigation or consultation with the State Govt. is a sinister plot to deprive eligible beneficiaries of welfare schemes, conveniently timed before the Lok Sabha Elections."

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"We are all CITIZENS of India. Every resident can avail GoWB’s welfare benefits, irrespective of whether they have Aadhaar cards or not," she added.

Technical error, claims BJP

In reaction to Mamata's claims, Union Minister and BJP MP Shantanu Thakur said a "technical fault" led to the deactivation of Aadhaar cards.

"The Aadhaar cards were deactivated due to a technical fault. Union Home Minister (Amit Shah) has asked me to take responsibility to take applications to reactivate the cards," said Thakur, who is an MP from West Bengal's Bongaon.