Union Minister Shantanu Thakur claimed that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) is set to be implemented across the country within the next seven days. Speaking at a public meeting in Kakdwip, South 24 Parganas district, Thakur assured the audience that the controversial law, which was cleared by Parliament in December 2019, would not only be enforced in West Bengal but also in every state of India.
Thakur, who serves as the Union Minister of State for Shipping, Ports, and Waterways, linked the implementation of the CAA to the recent inauguration of the Ram Temple. He emphasized the significance of the law, stating that it was essential for the future generations of those who migrated to India after the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
The BJP MP from Bongaon, a constituency dominated by the Matua community, alleged that despite assurances from the state government, a significant number of Matua members have been denied voter IDs and Aadhaar cards.
Thakur accused the West Bengal government of using these tactics to suit its political agenda and questioned whether the denial of documents was due to the community's support for the BJP.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah had reaffirmed the BJP's commitment to the CAA in December of the previous year, stating that the law was non-negotiable and would provide citizenship to everyone.
The Matua community, belonging to the Scheduled Caste Namasudra, has long sought Indian citizenship due to the circumstances of their migration during the Partition and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
With approximately three crore Matuas residing in West Bengal, mainly in North 24 Parganas and Nadia districts, the BJP had promised to address their demand for Indian citizenship during the 2021 Assembly elections. The implementation of the CAA, however, has faced challenges, as the Centre is yet to frame its rules, and opposition to the law has been widespread since its passage in 2019.
The CAA aims to grant Indian citizenship to Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians who entered India before December 31, 2014, from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. The law has been a subject of contention that excludes Muslims over giving citizenship based on religion.