Mamata Banerjee said on Monday that her government would soon pass a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act and urged the northeastern states, including the BJP-ruled Assam and Tripura, to introduce similar motions in their Assemblies.

“We will soon pass a resolution against the CAA,” the Bengal chief minister said at Calcutta airport before taking a flight to Siliguri.

Annoyed by the bandh-day violence, the Trinamul Congress had earlier refused to let the Left Front and the Congress move such a proposal in the Assembly. The Left government in Kerala has passed a resolution against the CAA.

“I would request the governments of all the north-eastern states and the Opposition-ruled states to pass resolutions against the act. They should also study the rules of the NPR before taking any decision on the exercise,” Mamata said.

This is the first time in recent times that Mamata has tried to reach out to elected governments in the Northeast, where the resistance to the CAA is linked to the perceived threat to the linguistic and cultural identities of the indigenous communities.

In contrast, the narrative against the CAA in other parts of the country is based on the central government’s decision to grant citizenship on religious lines.

Sources in Trinamul said Mamata was well aware of the difference, but tried to send out a message to those agitating against the CAA in different parts of the Northeast that she was willing to join forces with them.

“Geographically, the Northeast is closer to north Bengal…. She timed her message accordingly so that it draws attention,” a source said.

The source said the BJP-led governments in Assam and Tripura and the other governments in the region were unlikely to heed Mamata’s advice, but her message was more to the protesters so that pressure can be kept up on the Centre.

In Siliguri, where she inaugurated Uttarbanga Utsav, Mamata referred to the January 17 meeting the Centre had held with the states to discuss the NPR. Bengal was the only state that stayed away.

“I am ready to walk alone. The governments of the north-eastern states should understand that the Centre has improperly briefed them,” the chief minister said.