Plea in SC seeks removal of Mamata Banerjee as West Bengal CM

Amid massive protests against the Citizenship Act, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to West Bengal Governor to remove Mamata Banerjee as the Chief Minister. The WB CM had in December thrown a challenge to Centre’s ruling BJP, calling for a UN-conducted referendum across the country on CAA and NRC while adding that the Narendra Modi government would have to resign if the people rejected the two.

New Delhi:A petition was on Monday filed in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to the West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankar to remove Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for "demanding UN-monitored referendum on Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA)".

The plea filed by a person named Varaaki contended that the oath of office under schedule III of the Constitution of India mandates the Chief Minister not to make a statement against the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

Mamata Banerjee had earlier sought a referendum with United Nation's assistance over the CAA issue.

Read: Mamata calls for UN-controlled referendum on CAA, NRC

She had said, "Let there be an impartial organisation like the United Nations or the Human Rights Commission...form a committee to see how many people are in favour or against the Citizenship Amendment Act."

The petitioner stated that her statement is an open violation of Indian sovereignty and oath.

"She, after the violation of oath, is no longer eligible to hold the post," the petition stated and sought her removal from the posy.

Read: Mamata makes U-turn on UN referendum statement, urges PM to withdraw new citizenship law