CAA IN A WEEK, SAYS CENTRAL MINISTER; 'SCARING EVERYONE', COUNTERS MAMATA

Shipping and Ports Minister of State Shantanu Thakur's statement that the CAA (the Citizenship (Amendment) Act) would be implemented across India "within a week", has kicked off a political storm in West Bengal, which shares a long and porous international border with Bangladesh.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

The Trinamool Congress has come out strongly against the statement, saying it was aimed at "scaring people".

Speaking at a BJP meeting in Kakdwip in South 24-Parganas, Thakur said: "I can guarantee that in the next seven days, the CAA will be implemented, not just in West Bengal, but across India," Thakur said in Bengali.

Shantanu Thakur also took a swipe at the Trinamool Congress Government in Bengal headed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "This Government tells you that if you have a voter and an Aadhaar card, you're a citizen of this country and can register your votes. If that is the case, then why do I hear that thousands of people here have been deprived of their right to vote? The Chief Minister has to answer why they have been deprived," the BJP leader said.

Now, Mamata Banerjee has hit back at Shantanu Thakur's remarks, saying the BJP wants votes by "scaring everyone".