Assam Notice Sparks Outrage for Uttam Kumar
The case has sparked a wider debate about citizenship and identity in the region, with many questioning the legitimacy of the notice and the impact it could have on the lives of ordinary citizens, and has become a flashpoint in the ongoing political tensions between Bengal and Assam.
Uttam Kumar Brajabashi, a 50-year-old man from Cooch Behar in West Bengal, has been asked by the Assam government to prove his Indian citizenship by July 15, despite having never left Bengal or traveled to Assam, prompting widespread criticism and political backlash.
The notice, which alleges that Brajabashi entered India illegally between 1966 and 1971, has been termed "undemocratic" by the Trinamool Congress, with the party questioning the basis for the Assam government's action against someone who has never visited the state. Brajabashi claims he was born in 1975 and has produced documents showing that his parents were voters in Dinhata, but the Assam government has rejected these documents and is demanding proof of inclusion in the voter list since 1966.
The development has triggered public outrage and drawn sharp political reactions, with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee being highly vocal against the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). The issue has escalated into a full-blown political flashpoint between Bengal and Assam, with the Trinamool Congress coming out in support of Brajabashi and criticizing the Assam government's actions.
As the deadline for Brajabashi to prove his citizenship approaches, the situation remains tense, with many questioning the legitimacy of the notice and the impact it could have on the lives of ordinary citizens. The incident has highlighted the complexities and challenges surrounding citizenship and identity in the region, and has sparked a wider debate about the need for a more nuanced and compassionate approach to these issues.