Union Minister Shantanu Thakur stirred up a row declaring that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), passed by Parliament in December 2019, will be enforced nationwide within the next week. Speaking to the public in Kakdwip, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal, on Sunday, Thakur guaranteed the implementation of CAA in Bengal and across states in India within the next seven days.
“Today I am giving a guarantee that CAA will be implemented in Bengal and other states of India in the next seven days,” he said.
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He argued that individuals who migrated to the country after 1971 have the right to vote, but he has received reports that such people are deprived of their voting rights. Thakur, a BJP MP from Bongaon, a constituency dominated by the Matua community, took a jab at West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee questioning whether those being denied voting rights belong to the Matua community or are supporters of the BJP.
Thakur accused the state government of failing to issue voter IDs and Aadhaar cards to a significant number of Matua community members, despite assurances from the chief minister.
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“The chief minister of West Bengal repeatedly said that those who migrated to India after 1971 (Bangladesh liberation war) and have voter IDs and Aadhaar cards are citizens of this country. But there are thousands of people here who have been denied voter ID cards. Is it because they belong to the Matua community and support the BJP? The state government is doing this to suit its political agenda. Those who have come here after 1971 need citizenship to secure their future generations. This is the reason why the Centre has brought CAA. That’s why CAA must be implemented,” he said, according to The Indian Express.
BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar was present at the public meeting when Thakur made these claims. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had previously affirmed the BJP’s commitment to CAA, asserting that the law would be implemented and everyone would receive citizenship.
BJP raising CAA for votes: Mamata Banerjee
Reacting to Shantanu Thankur’s remarks on Monday, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee slammed the saffron party, accusing them of raising the CAA issue for political gains as Lok Sabha elections approach.
“We have fought against the NRC. Rajbanshis are citizens of India. They have again started shouting CAA, CAA for the sake of votes,” Mamata Banerjee said at a public distribution program in West Bengal’s Cooch Behar, ANI reported.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo further mentioned that her government recognises all colonies as “permanent addresses,” and residents benefiting from various state government programs are considered citizens.
“All of you are citizens. We have given permanent addresses to all colonies. They get ration, go to school, get scholarships, get Kisan Bandhu, Shikhashree, Oikoshree, Laxmir Bhandar. How could they get these benefits if they had not been citizens? Had they been able to cast votes if they were not citizens?” Banerjee questioned.
The implementation of CAA has been in a state of uncertainty as the rules have not been framed by the Centre. The passage of the law had led to widespread protests across the country following its passage in 2019. Officials indicated that the notification of CAA rules is expected well in advance before the announcement of Lok Sabha polls.
The CAA, introduced by the Narendra Modi government, aims to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014. Despite its passage, opposition to the law remains strong, with protests erupting in various parts of the country.
(With inputs from agnecies)