Mamata slams Centre over Aadhar-like system for cows

Cooch Behar (West Bengal): Continuing her tirade against the Modi government, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday slammed the move to have an Aadhaar-like identity system for cows.

"Just see... Now cows need Aadhar cards. Then what cards will be needed for children who need cow's milk? Do they need 'Danga Card' (riot card)?" Banerjee said here.

Unique identification numbers are expected to help track cows and prevent their smuggling, a committee appointed by the Home Ministry said on April 24.

The Trinamool Congress supremo came down heavily on the BJP on a day when its chief Amit Shah began a three-day campaign in the state.

Accusing the Bharatiya Janatya Party of endorsing the ideology of polarisation and riots, Banerjee urged people not to join it at any cost.

"I will urge everyone, whatever you do, do not join the BJP. This party creates polarisation among people, fuels violence and riots, and makes people fight with each other," she said.

Accusing the BJP of defaming Hindu religion, Banerjee said the people of Bengal, who believe in the ideals of Swami Vivekananda and Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, would not accept the Hinduism promoted by the BJP.

"They are not Hindus. They defame the religion in the name of practising Hinduism. We believe in the Hinduism of Ramakrishna Dev and Vivekananda that talks about religious tolerance and not in BJP's brand of Hinduism that teaches people to polarise," she said.

She appealed to Dalits and non-Bengalis present at the meeting not to be inclined towards the saffron party, saying whoever joined them has repented later.

"I would request our Scheduled Caste brothers and sisters and the Hindi speaking people here to let me know what they require. I will do whatever I can. But remember BJP is a party that endorses riots. Do not go with them," she added.