Prime Minister Narendra Modi met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday evening against the amended Citizenship Act in the state capital.
After the meeting, Mamta said that she told the PM that Bengal is against the Citizenship Act, National Register of Citizens and National Population Register. He said that he asked the PM to withdraw CAA and NRC.
Before the arrival of the Prime Minister, protests had begun in various parts of Kolkata, particularly along the route of his convoy.
Youths, political parties and various political organizations raised slogans against the Citizenship Amendment Act and the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC) and said: “Go back, Modi.” Black flags were visible everywhere.
One of Banerjee’s ministers, Siddikullah Chaudhary, who is also the leader of Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind, has held rallies in Kolkata and Murshidabad district. Chaudhary will lead a Jamiat rally in Murshidabad against CAA.
The Congress, on its part, accused Banerjee of being silent with Modi.
Modi wanted a last-minute change in his two-day visit received at the airport by Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar, Mayor Firhad Hakim and BJP state unit president Dilip Ghosh.
He has expressed his desire to spend the night at Belur Math, not according to Raj Bhavan’s plan. And, maths monks in Howrah district said that they were preparing for Modi’s stay.
As per the new temporary schedule, the Prime Minister will attend two official events in Kolkata and return to Raj Bhavan where he will meet leaders of the state unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a meeting with Mamata Banerjee.
Modi will then go to Belur Math to spend the night.
TMC leaders said Banerjee could meet Modi at the Millennium Park on the banks of the Hooghly River, where the Prime Minister will inaugurate a light and sound show or at the Raj Bhavan.
The final schedule will depend on the circumstances and their convenience, he said.
Modi had tweeted about his plans before reaching the city.
“I am excited to be in West Bengal today and tomorrow. I am happy to spend time in the Ramakrishna Mission and that too when we see the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. There is something special about that place, ”Modi said in a tweet in Bengali.
In another tweet, he said that he will remember Ramakrishna Math president Ammanasthanandji Maharaj, who died last year at the age of 98.
“Nevertheless, there will be avoided! The person who taught me the great principle of ‘VA Jana Seva hi Prabhu Seva’ will not be revered Swami Atmasthanand. It is unimaginable to be in the Ramakrishna Mission and they are not present! “They said.
On Sunday morning, Modi is expected to participate in rituals to be held on the 150th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda. He will attend the 150th-anniversary celebrations at Kolkata Port and fly back to Delhi.