PM-MODI-LD VISIT

TMC, CPM activists begin protests against CAA, NRC ahead of PM
Modi's two-day Bengal visit
(Eds: adding detail)
    Kolkata, Jan 11 (PTI) The ruling Trinamool Congress
students wing as well Left Front activists have begun their
protest separately against the amended Citizenship Act in
various parts of West Bengal ahead of Prime Minister Narendra
Modi's two-day visit to the state starting on Saturday.
    Trinamool Congress students' wing, TMCP, began their
'dharna' against CAA, NRC and National Population Register
(NPR) on Friday at Rani Rashmoni Road in Kolkata.
TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata
Banerjee is scheduled to spend an hour with the TMCP agitators
during the day.
She is scheduled to meet the PM in the evening.
The Left Front activists staged protests on Saturday
against the new citizenship law in various parts of North 24
Parganas district.
The PM's visit comes at a time when West Bengal has been
witnessing widespread protests against the contentious
Citizenship Act.
Left Front activists, carrying placards with 'Go Back
Modi' written on it, took out rallies at Dum Dum area - which
is just 1.5 kilometres from the airport, where the PM will
land upon his arrival in the city.
    "We will continue our protest unless and until the Act
is withdrawn. We don't want Narendra Modi to come to Kolkata
as it will vitiate the atmosphere of our state," a protester
said.
    Several organisations, both political and civil, have
planned protest rallies across the city against the Citizensip
Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens
(NRC).
    During his visit, Modi will attend sesquicentenary
celebrations of Kolkata Port Trust and hold a meeting with
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
    Apart from attending scheduled programmes, the prime
minister will hold a one-on-one meeting with Banerjee at the
Raj Bhavan on Saturday evening.
    The meeting assumes significance as the new
citizenship law has emerged as the latest flashpoint in the
state, with Banerjee's Trinamool Congress opposing the
contentious legislation tooth and nail, and the BJP pressing
for its implementation.
    The prime minister will dedicate to the nation four
refurbished heritage buildings in Kolkata -- the Old Currency
Building, the Belvedere House, the Metcalfe House and the
Victoria Memorial Hall.
    The Culture Ministry has renovated these iconic
galleries and refurbished them with new exhibitions, while
curating the old galleries.
    Modi will also participate in the sesquicentenary
celebrations of the Kolkata Port Trust on Saturday and Sunday.
    The prime minister and the chief minister will share
dais at the programme at Netaji Indoor Stadium. West Bengal
Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar will also be present.
    The prime minister is likely stay at Belur
Math, the headquarters of Ramakrishna Mission, on Saturday
night.
The West Bengal administration has made elaborate
security arrangements for the visit.
Congress workers and some students organisations are
also scheduled to hold protests across the city against the
Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the proposed countrywide
National Register of Citizens. PTI PNT BDC
SNS SNS

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)