The state government in West Bengal has passed a resolution rejecting India’s citizenship law that sparked widespread protests

On Monday the state of West Bengal, which borders Bangladesh, one of the three countries covered by the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), passed a resolution rejecting the legislation. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the law and the plan for a national population and citizenship registries (NPR and NRC) would be enforced in her state “over her dead body.” She called on the repeal of the CAA.

Banerjee heads the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has only a small representation in the national parliament, but controls more than two thirds of seats in the West Bengal state legislature.

Kolkata follows the example of three other states which have defied the central government on the citizenship issue. Kerala, Punjab and Rajasthan, all of which are controlled by opposition parties, passed similar resolutions. India consists of 28 states and 9 union territories.