Just ahead of monsoon session of parliament, BJP, TMC clash over Union minister Nishikant Pramanik's citizenship
New Delhi/IBNS: On the eve of the monsoon session of parliament, the BJP and Trinamool Congress have clashed over the nationality of Coochbehar MP and Minister of State for Home Nishit Pramanik.
Last Friday, Ripun Bora Congress MP from Assam and party chief of state unit wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding an inquiry into Pramanik's place of birth and nationality.
"It's a matter of grave concern that a foreign national is an incumbent Union Minister," wrote Bora in his letter and also cited some media reports disputing Pramanik's nationality, reported NDTV.
The matter was also raised by Trinamool Congress, who sought Centre's clarification over the issue.
"Rajya Sabha MP board are asking all the right questions," tweeted West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu, the report quoted.
Another TMC MP Indranil Sen said he was "shocked and stunned to learn that Union Minister Nishit Pramanik might be a citizen of Bangladesh", according too the NDTV report.
BJP dismissed the claims, saying that there was no proof to support the alleged claims.
"Let them show proof. Just pointing fingers is not enough," the party's West Bengal spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya has told the media, it said.
No one has come with any evidence to challenge Pramanik's citizenship.
According to the NDTV report, the controversy arose after a Facebook post, apparently originating in Bangladesh, referred to his appointment as Minister of State and described him as "the successful son of Harinathpur in the Palashbari police station area of the Gaibandha district of Bangladesh". "He studied computer science in West Bengal," it added.
Poojar Mela, which describes itself as a religious organisation in Bangladesh, has since deleted the post.
The BJP MP's Lok Sabha bio says he was born in Dihata in West Bengal's Coochbehar district and holds a a bachelor's degree in computer applications.
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