Nisith Pramanik’s citizenship questioned

Nationality Image Courtesy:telegraphindia.com

The controversy surrounding Union Minister of State Nisith Pramanik is refusing to die down. First, it was the Trinamool Congress (TMC) that alleged that Pramanik was born in Bangladesh and now Ripun Bora, the Congress leader from Assam and Rajya Sabha Member of Parliament (MP) has written to the Prime Minister to conduct an enquiry to determine Pramanik’s nationality.

In his letter to the Prime Minister, Ripun Bora says, “His (Pramanik’s) birth place is Harinathpur, under Palasbari P.S, District – Gaibandha of Bangladesh.” He further alleges that Pramanik came to West Bengal to study Computer Science and then joined the TMC, basing his allegations on several news reports on local networks that had also pointed out the discrepancy in his address. According to a News 18 report, Bangladesh newspapers like Bangladesh Pratidin, Bhorer Kagoj, Prothom Alo, etc, carried stories that show how the elder brother of the minister’s father still stays in Velakopa area of Bangladesh’s Gaibandha district.

At 35, Pramanik is the youngest Minister of State and incidentally serves in the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) that oversees the citizenship issue (that is a particularly contentious subject in Assam). He was previously a member of the TMC, but later joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and is at present the elected MP from Cooch Behar in West Bengal. According to Lok Sabha records, Pramanik was born in West Bengal, but now it is alleged that he was born in Harinathpur in Bangladesh.

Pramanik is part of the Modi government’s newly minted Cabinet, but TMC leaders in both houses shouted slogans against him, especially when Modi tried to introduce new members of the Cabinet. The controversy that erupted was huge, and combined with protests over other major issues like agricultural laws, Covid management and Pegasus, both houses of Parliament had to be adjourned after Opposition leaders created a furore.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Derek O’Brien told media persons at a virtual press conference, “The reason why we did not allow him (PM) to introduce his ministers is because the ministers are supposed to be citizens of India. The MoS (Home), who has been inducted, is not a citizen of India. He is a citizen of Bangladesh. He has been made a part of the floor of the House.”

But the BJP had denied all allegations, calling them “baseless”. Ripun Bora’s letter may be read here:

Citizenship