Will expedite hearings provide citizenship to 2.5 lakh applicants under CAA by Dec 31 Bengal CM

    Thakurnagar (WB), Nov 1 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday announced that his government would complete hearings for around 2.5 lakh CAA applicants in the state by December 31 this year and issue citizenship certificates to them, asserting that no eligible applicant would be left out.

    He also announced a Rs 50 crore grant for the development of the Matua community within the current financial year and promised to restructure the Matua Development Board during the same period.

    Addressing the International Matua Gosai Convention 2026, organised here in North 24 Parganas district, Adhikari said the administration had issued guidelines after consultations with senior officials of the Union Home Ministry, state government and district administrations.

    "Only around 25,000 people have received citizenship certificates under the CAA in West Bengal so far. There are nearly 2.5 lakh petitioners. We will complete the hearings by December 31 and issue citizenship certificates to them. This is my responsibility," he said.

    Those who are members of the Scheduled Caste community, particularly Namasudras, among those 25,000 would be provided with SC certificates without delay, Adhikari said.

    He said the Matuas' support had played an important role in the BJP's electoral victories in the state.

    The Matuas are part of a religious and social reform movement that emerged in the late 19th century under the leadership of Harichand Thakur. The movement primarily mobilised members of the Namasudra community in undivided Bengal.

    Adhikari said the government would also take steps to help those receiving CAA certificates get their names enrolled in the electoral rolls during the special revision exercise scheduled to begin in January.

    Recalling Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to the area during the 2019 Lok Sabha election campaign, Adhikari said the community members had been promised citizenship and the Centre had subsequently enacted the CAA.

    He said Parliament passed the law in 2019, though its implementation was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Union Home Minister Amit Shah had assured the community in 2023 that the rules would be notified before the 2024 general elections, a commitment he subsequently fulfilled, Adhikari said.

    "People who left other countries to save their lives and protect their religion came to India seeking shelter. They received citizenship under the CAA in different states. Only one chief minister directly opposed it. That was Mamata Banerjee. She had even mocked the CAA by saying 'CAA, CAA, chi chi'. I hope you have not forgotten that," he said.

    "Chi chi" is a Bengali expression used to express disapproval or shame.

    "God removed her democratically because she had committed those wrongs. Not only that, she has lost the elections to me twice -- in Nandigram and in Bhowanipore," Adhikari stated.

    Adhikari accused the Mamata Banerjee government of neglecting the Matua community and opposing its demand for citizenship.

    "After the change of regime in Bangladesh, several Matuas and other Hindus faced atrocities. When these incidents were brought to the Prime Minister's notice, the previous state government used the police to selectively put Hindus behind bars," he alleged.

    The previous CM had divided the Matuas and their society and did nothing for them, Adhikari claimed.

    Referring to the Centre's September 1, 2025 announcement concerning migrants who entered India to escape religious persecution, Adhikari said those who had come from Bangladesh by December 31, 2024, to save their lives would not be harassed by the police.

    He said the government would look into cases of Matua refugees lodged in jails in Bongaon, Barasat and Ranaghat without trial and promised to secure their release.

    "We will also provide land and houses to them, along the lines of what Yogi Adityanath has done in Uttar Pradesh," he said.

    Adhikari also attacked those allegedly attempting to destabilise the country and West Bengal, describing them as "dimagi Naxals, Maoists, cockroaches and bedbugs".

    Recalling his family's experience of displacement during Partition, Adhikari said his mother had been forced to leave Barishal in present-day Bangladesh because she was a Hindu.

    "We will not allow ourselves to become refugees again. We will not abandon Modi ji. We must remain alert against those seeking to create instability in our country and state, as has happened in Bangladesh," he said.

    Adhikari referred to a line from a song, and described PM Modi as 'Sonar Gaur', a reference to Sri Chaitanya, and said, "If we let go of him, we will never get Sonar Gaur back."

    Earlier in the day, Adhikari offered prayers at the Shwet Mandir, considered one of the most sacred places for the community.

    Referring to a conversation with Bangaon MP and Matua Mahasangha president Shantanu Thakur, he said a new temple would be constructed using funds from the pilgrimage site's trust.

    "Once the arrangements are complete, I will personally attend the foundation-laying ceremony, and the Prime Minister will also be invited," he said.

    Adhikari further announced that the state government would extend special assistance to the annual "Baruni Mela", a festival of the Matuas, and work towards giving it national fair status.

    He said the government would also support the Sraboni Mela, drawing a parallel with the arrangements made for the annual pilgrimage at Tarakeswar Shiva Temple.

    The CM promised to upgrade the Chandpara health centre into a 100-bed hospital within six months and name it after Maa Binapani, the Matuas' revered matriarch.

    Thakurnagar would also be declared a municipality in the next state Budget session, he said, adding that the Matua community's religious and cultural institutions would receive government support.

    He asserted that TMC leaders would not be allowed to create obstacles in implementing the initiatives for the Matua community.

    Adhikari said eligible people would be helped in accessing schemes like 'Annapurna Yojana' and Ayushman Bharat, and a dedicated officer would be appointed at the Chief Minister's Office to ensure that members of the Matua community receive the benefits.

(This story has not been edited by THE WEEK and is auto-generated from PTI)