Assam NRC issue: Assam TMC chief Dwipen Pathak resigns, says Mamata misleading people

Hours after the Trinamool Congress leaders halted at Silchar airport in Assam, state TMC president Dwipen Pathak resigned from the post on Thursday. The leader was unhappy with the way TMC chief Mamata Banerjee stood over the National Registrar of Citizens (NRC) update exercise in Assam.

Pathak is the second leader, after Mukul Roy, who dared to speak against Mamata Banerjee. Alleging that TMC supremo is misleading the nation over NRC issue, Pathak was of the opinion that she is spreading rumours. The former state TMC chief (after resigning from the post) even alleged that prior to the NRC issue, she never took interest in matters pertaining to Assam. Adding more he said that TMC chief is interfering now to reap political mileage.

Washing of his hands on the NRC issue, Pathak had said, “What Mamata Banerjee said about NRC, that it has been brought in Assam to drive out Bengalis, I don’t agree with that. It might create disturbance here and the blame would be on me as a president, so I have resigned.” The ex-TMC leader represented Hajo constituency in the Assam Assembly as Trinamool Congress legislator from 2011 to 2016.

#WATCH: Dwipen Pathak after resigning from Assam TMC Chief’s post says, “What Mamata Banerjee said about NRC, that it has been brought in Assam to drive out Bengalis, I don’t agree with that. It might create disturbance here & the blame would be on me as a pres, so I’ve resigned” pic.twitter.com/JnxKy2gV0i

— ANI (@ANI) August 2, 2018

Not only Pathak, two Assam TMC leaders – Diganta Saikia and Pradeep Pachoni – quit the party over the comments made by Mamata on the NRC issue on Wednesday. The leaders, too, alleged that the West Bengal CM commented on the NRC issue ‘without any knowledge’. With leaders quitting the party, there is a high possibility of relationship becoming sweet to sour between leaders inside the party.

Earlier in the day, the TMC delegation, comprising of eight parliamentarians and two legislators, was stopped at Silchar airport on Thursday. These leaders were supposed to address rallies in Assam on the National Register of Citizens (NRC) issue. Though there were rumours of being arrested, Assam Director General of Police Kuladhar Saikia quashed the reports.

Soon after the leaders were manhandled, Mamata stated that party (BJP) leaders have lost their minds fearing ouster in 2019. She had said, “These atrocities aren’t only being condemned, I think this is beginning of the end. They are frustrated, politically tensed and depressed. That’s why they are showing muscle power.”