Modi promises citizenship under CAA, voting rights to Matua community in West Bengal rally

Kolkata: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday assured the Matua community in West Bengal that their voting rights will be protected and that citizenship will be granted under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), countering Trinamool Congress (TMC) claims that the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise could disenfranchise them.

Addressing a public rally in Malda district, Modi said the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is committed to safeguarding the interests of Matuas and other religious refugees who have settled in the state. “I request the people from the Matua community, as well as people coming to West Bengal from the neighbouring country because of religious oppression, not to be scared. It is my guarantee that their interests will be protected and citizenship will be granted to them under the Citizenship Amendment Act,” he said.

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The Prime Minister added that a BJP government in West Bengal would work towards the social development of Matuas and other backward class communities. The Matuas, primarily refugees from Bangladesh belonging to socially disadvantaged backgrounds, are concentrated in Nadia and North 24 Parganas districts. Since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP has built strong support in Matua-dominated areas.

Modi also launched a sharp attack on the TMC, accusing it of encouraging illegal migration from Bangladesh. “The biggest challenge faced by West Bengal is infiltration. The rich countries of the world, where there is no shortage of money, are also expelling infiltrators. Should they not be sent out of West Bengal also?” he asked, alleging that the TMC has undermined the rights of the poor, deprived youth of jobs, and fostered violence and terrorism in the state.

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He further claimed that the demographic balance in Bengal is being disrupted, particularly in Malda and Murshidabad, and warned that “the alliance of infiltrators and those in power will have to be broken. If the BJP comes to power, there will be big steps against the infiltrators.”

— IANS