Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday (December 19) said UN intervention is needed in Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as protests in the country have intensified. Banerjee today dared the ruling BJP to conduct a UN-monitored referendum on the issue.

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Addressing a huge rally in Kolkata, Banerjee said, "If BJP has the guts, it should go for a UN-monitored referendum on the amended Citizenship Act and NRC."

Protests are being held across the country ever since the Bill was introduced in the Parliament earlier this month.

 A day ago, Mamata lashed out at Union home minister Amit Shah over the new citizenship law, which she said has left the country burning, and asked him to douse the fire. She had reiterated that the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and National Register of Citizenship (NRC) will not be implemented in West Bengal.

Meanwhile, the ministry of home affairs called for an emergency review meeting on the security situation arising due to protests against Citizenship Act. Union home minister Amit Shah, NSA Ajit Doval, MoS for Home G Kishan Reddy and Union home secretary Ajay Kumar Bhalla are expected to attend the meeting.