Over the last few days, Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee has pitched herself as a fierce critic of the Assam citizens' list and the plans for a crackdown against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. Ms Banerjee has also predicted a civil war and bloodbath if the centre stays the course. She was as dramatic when she spoke out in parliament on Bangladeshi immigrants exactly 13 years ago. But she was making exactly the opposite argument. Then, Ms Banerjee, an opposition lawmaker, believed that "infiltration into Bengal has become a disaster now" and there were Bangladesh nationals on the voting list.