BJP Minister Pramanik's nationality under scrutiny

Nishit Pramanik, Minister of State for Home, who was added to the Central cabinet in the recent reshuffle, is at the centre of a fresh controversy regarding his nationality.

The 35-year-old MP from West Bengal is alleged of being a citizen of Bangladesh. His nationality came under doubt after a Facebook post originated in Bangladesh calling him "the successful son of Harinathpur in the Palashbari police station area of the Gaibandha district of Bangladesh" after he was appointed Minister of State. The post also said that Pramanik studied computer science in West Bengal. The Facebook post by Poojar Mela, a self-styled religious organisation, has been removed since.

Ripun Bora, Congress MP from Assam and state Congress chief, wrote to the Prime Minister demanding a probe into Pramanik's place of birth and nationality, reported NDTV. He also tweeted that a foreign national being Union Minister of India is a matter of grave concern.

BJP spokesperson in West Bengal Samik Bhattacharya said that those who are making allegations should show proof and pointing fingers is not enough. Pramanik's Lok Sabha bio says his place of birth is Dinhata in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district.

Trinamool Congress leaders have also supported Bora. West Bengal Education Minister Bratya Basu tweeted that the Rajya Sabha MP board is asking all the right questions. TMC's state minister Indranil Sen said that he was "shocked and stunned to learn that Union Minister Nishit Pramanik might be a citizen of Bangladesh".

Previously, TMC leaders had questioned Pramanik's education qualifications. They also pointed out that he is involved in a dozen criminal cases, including murder, said the NDTV report.