Cooch Behar, July 09 (Siliguri Chronicle) – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday slammed a notice issued by a foreigners’ tribunal in Assam to Uttam Kumar Brajabasi, a resident of Cooch Behar. She called on all Opposition parties to unite against what she described as the BJP’s “divisive” agenda.
Following her remarks, the Trinamool Congress launched a series of protests across Cooch Behar, aiming to connect with the Rajbanshi community — a key voter group in north Bengal — and challenge the BJP in one of its strongholds ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
“I am shocked and deeply disturbed to learn that the Foreigners Tribunal in Assam has issued an NRC notice to Uttam Kumar Brajabasi, a Rajbanshi, resident of Dinhata in Cooch Behar for over 50 years. Despite furnishing valid identity documents, he is being harassed on suspicion of being a “foreigner/illegal migrant,” Mamata wrote on her official social media handle.
She alleged that the notice to Brajabasi proved that the BJP dispensation in Assam “is attempting to implement NRC in Bengal, where it holds no power or jurisdiction”.
“A premeditated attempt is being made to intimidate, disenfranchise, and target marginalised communities. This unconstitutional overreach is anti-people and exposes BJP’s dangerous agenda of bulldozing democratic safeguards and erasing the identity of Bengal’s people,” Mamata added.
“This alarming situation calls for urgent unity among all Opposition parties to stand up against BJP’s divisive and oppressive machinery. Bengal will not stand by as the constitutional fabric of India is torn apart.”
Uttam Kumar Brajabasi, a 50-year-old farmer from Cooch Behar, has received a notice from a foreigners’ tribunal in Assam’s Kamrup district, asking him to prove his Indian citizenship. The tribunal alleged that he entered Assam without valid documents and was “suspected to be a foreigner or infiltrator” by state authorities. With the deadline set for July 15, Brajabasi has turned to the Cooch Behar district magistrate for help, appealing to the Bengal government for support.
According to a Trinamool Congress source, the notice served to Brajabasi — a member of the Rajbanshi community — has given the ruling party a powerful political tool against the BJP. The TMC is now planning an extensive campaign across north Bengal, especially in areas with a strong Rajbanshi presence, to counter the BJP’s influence.
“We will reach out to Rajbanshi voters to inform them about the harassment faced by Uttam Kumar Brajabasi, and how the BJP is acting vindictively against their community. We will tell them that the BJP wants to oust them from the country by branding them as foreigners or infiltrators,” Trinamool MP Samirul Islam said.
A source said the foreigners’ tribunal notice has put the BJP on the back foot, especially given its strong support from Rajbanshi voters since the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. If the Rajbanshi community turns away from the party, it could spell trouble for the BJP in next year’s Assembly elections.
Out of 54 Assembly seats in north Bengal, 24 have a dominant Rajbanshi population, often playing a decisive role in the outcome. Currently, the BJP holds 19 of these seats, while Trinamool controls just five.
Sensing the issue’s political weight, the Trinamool Congress quickly launched protests across Cooch Behar on Tuesday. Demonstrations were held in several locations, including Cooch Behar town, Tufanganj, and Sitalkuchi.
Meanwhile, the All Kamtapur Students’ Union — a group representing the Rajbanshi community — warned of a large-scale agitation against what it called the BJP’s attempt to harass a man who has never even been to Assam.
“We will not tolerate the harassment of our Kamtapuri-Rajbanshi people. We will take up this issue strongly, as Rajbanshis are more Indian than even Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” said Kaushik Barman, president of the students’ outfit.
Sensing possible backlash from Rajbanshi voters, the BJP dismissed Mamata Banerjee’s claims as baseless, alleging that the entire narrative was politically motivated and fabricated.
“False narrative being peddled by@MamataOfficial regarding an alleged notice issued by one FRO court from Assam. But the fact of the matter is @CMOfficeAssam has already taken a decision to keep Koch-Rajbangshi out of NRC process rather state cabinet took firm stand to withdraw all pending cases against the Koch-Rajbangshi community as far as the NRC is concerned. Attn @Pijush_hazarika @ DGPAssamPolice to take strong action against those who are igniting social disharmony in West Bengal,” Jagannath Chattopadhyay, a BJP state general secretary, wrote on his X handle.
However, Trinamool hit back, asking: if the claims are baseless, why is Uttam Kumar Brajabasi being harassed and asked to prove his citizenship?
