Mamata Banerjee’s team arrives, Assam to act tough

As the eight members fact finding team of the Trinamool Congress touch down on Assam, Assam Government had on Thursday announced that they were welcome but any attempt to fan trouble shall be handled sternly.

The team reached Silchar around 02 pm and then on Friday shall come to Guwahati to see how the NRC process have affected the people of Benaii origin.

After the TMC Delegation led by Farhad Hakim landed at the airport, they have been detained inside the airport by the authorities as precautionary measure.

Security has been tightened in several parts of the Barak valley town. The Rapid Action Force (RAF) has also been deployed around the airport premises. Assam Police is closely monitoring the situation.

Meanwhile, the Assam government on Thursday said that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's opposition to the Supreme Court-monitored NRC amounted to "contempt of court" and she is not above the apex court.

Speaking to the media, Assam government spokesman Chandra Mohan PatowaryBanerjee's, who is also the state's parliamentary affairs minister said that allegations against the National Register of Citizens, whose final draft was published on July 30, are "baseless".

Asked if the Assam government will file a contempt of court case against Banerjee, Patowary replied, "We will see at the appropriate time since she is speaking against the Supreme Court."

"She (Banerjee) does not have the right to remark as the NRC is a legal process," added the minister.

"As a chief minister Mamata Banerjee should have the basic knowledge that when she opposes a matter (NRC) monitored by the honourable Supreme Court it will amount to contempt of court. She is not above the Supreme Court," he stated.

Banerjee has opposed NRC in Assam, saying it will lead to "civil war and bloodbath in the country" as over 40 lakh applicants have been excluded in the final draft of the citizen's register.