Kolkata, 2 August (H.S.) –
In a strategic political move ahead of upcoming elections, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a “CAA Help Desk” campaign across refugee-dominated areas of West Bengal, particularly targeting the influential Matua community. The initiative, named ‘CAA Sahayogita Shivir’ (CAA Assistance Camps), aims to facilitate citizenship applications for refugees who lack proper documentation under the provisions of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The campaign, which began in Bagda and has now spread rapidly to Bongaon South and other Matua-dominated areas of North 24 Parganas, is also being seen as a direct challenge to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s “Bangali Asmita” (Bengali identity) narrative, which has been central to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) strategy.
State BJP president Shamik Bhattacharya said, “CAA is for religious minorities, including Hindus, who faced persecution in neighbouring countries and sought refuge in India. Ensuring a smooth citizenship process is our responsibility. There are document-related hurdles, but we will resolve them. BJP workers will stand by every refugee.”
At the grassroots level, BJP workers and Matua volunteers are assisting applicants in filling out online forms, submitting affidavits, and collecting application receipts. The party’s central message is: “Apply first, verification will follow.”
--------
Political Stakes Behind the Assistance Camps
The initiative carries significant political undertones. In a recent incident in Pune, a Matua family was allegedly detained and labelled “Bangladeshi” despite holding valid identification documents and a card issued by the All India Matua Mahasangha, signed by Union Minister Shantanu Thakur. This has raised concerns among the community about the effectiveness of documentation and reinforced BJP’s urgency in re-establishing trust.
BJP sees the ongoing campaign as an opportunity to reconnect with the Matua vote bank, which had played a crucial role in previous elections but has shown signs of drift. Following the notification of CAA rules in 2024, non-Muslim refugees from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014, are eligible to apply for Indian citizenship. However, many were unable to complete their applications due to lack of paperwork.
Now, the Matua Mahasangha is actively leading the charge. The organisation’s general secretary, Mahitosh Baidya, said, “These camps will not be limited to Matua areas; we aim to reach 15 million people across Bengal in the coming months.”
From Bagda to the tea gardens of North Bengal and Nadia district, camps are being set up with volunteers guiding applicants. Party workers are assuring people that under Section 10-D of the CAA, no non-Muslim refugee who arrived before the cutoff date will be deported for lack of documents.
A local BJP leader from Gaighata remarked, “People are hesitant due to fear. We’re telling them—take the first step, and we’ll walk the rest of the path with you.”
At a recent youth conference of the Matua Mahasangha, Union Minister Shantanu Thakur announced that volunteers will be trained to assist with application procedures, affidavit submissions, and religious identity verification. He also accused the state government of deliberately removing Matua names from voter rolls in areas like Bagda and Gaighata.
-------
TMC Calls It a Political Gimmick
TMC MP Mamata Bala Thakur dismissed the BJP’s campaign, saying, “If CAA is so strong a law, why were Matua Hindus branded Bangladeshis in Maharashtra? Even a certificate bearing a Union Minister’s signature couldn’t protect them. BJP’s double standards stand exposed.”
Political analyst Bishwanath Chakraborty observed, “There’s both potential and risk in BJP’s strategy. If the ‘undocumented’ application drive fails and mass rejections follow, it will bolster TMC’s argument that CAA is merely a poll gimmick. But if even a few successful applications emerge, BJP can claim that CAA offers real protection.”
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
