BJP's Dual Strategy to Address Matua Concerns on CAA: Simplify Documentation, Counter Misconceptions

To allay Matuas' worries about the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) being implemented in the state, the BJP has come up with a two-pronged plan.

The saffron camp has decided to launch an aggressive campaign to refute the Trinamul claim that the CAA was a ploy by the central government to deprive community members of their citizenship rights, while state BJP leaders are trying to convince the Union government of the need to streamline the documentation process.

"Mamata Banerjee is deceiving the public." They are afraid of her. She engages in political activity. Sukanta Majumdar, the president of the state BJP, stated that the CAA is an endeavor to confer citizenship rather than to cancel it.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remarks at a recent meeting, in which she voiced worries over the CAA's lack of transparency, prompted Majumdar's response. Banerjee warned people in the state against applying for citizenship, citing the possibility of being labeled as "refugees and infiltrators" and being shut out of government programs.

The BJP leadership in the state is aware of the documentation issues that have caused Matuas to be hesitant to petition for citizenship.

"A number of documents are listed in the CAA regulations notification as requirements for obtaining citizenship in this nation. Testimonials that an applicant must provide to demonstrate that he or she is intending to remain in the nation for a predetermined amount of time are included in the list of documents. The Matuas are worried about the outcomes of the process because they have to present these documents," a local BJP leader stated.

Senior BJP figures, such as Matua Mahasangha head and junior Union minister Shantanu Thakur, are aware of the concern and are attempting to persuade the home ministry to facilitate the documentation process.

The guidelines specify that an identification certificate or an attestation from well-known social organizations like Ramakrishna Mission suffices. If necessary, I will address the home ministry to make sure that occurs. There should be no problems for the citizens, according to Thakur.

A significant step forward was made when Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari declared at a conference in Ranaghat, a town recognized for having a sizable Matua population, that obtaining citizenship would not require any paperwork.

As an obedient elected official, I promise that no paperwork will be required, and I have the support of J.P. Nadda, Amit Shah, and Narendra Modi. All you need to do is fill out an application stating that you arrived in India for religious reasons from any eligible country, according to Suvendu.

A detailed examination of the forms contradicts Suvendu's assertion. The application form requests that the applicant provide any available passport and visa information. In addition to other required documentation, applicants must provide proof that their parents or ancestors were once inhabitants of Bangladesh, Afghanistan, or Pakistan. Since the majority of these impacted families had fled their home countries over night and arrived in this country essentially penniless, these records are mainly inaccessible.

Leaders of the All India Matua Mahasangha faction connected with the BJP assert that, despite the criteria, submitting a new identity card to members of their community would aid in expediting the citizenship process.

"We give identity cards to any member who is devoted to our group. Mohitosh Baidya, general secretary of Matua Mahasangha, stated, "But for the purpose of applying for citizenship, we are creating a new identity card that includes all the applicant data, allowing them to submit it along with their application through the designated portal."

Opposition parties, however, voiced doubts regarding the legitimacy of identity cards issued by religious organizations as official records.

"How is identification verified by a religious organization's identity card possible? "They're attempting to deceive Matuas," a Nadia-based Trinamul leader declared.

A top BJP leader responded, "We are in touch with the home ministry and hope to find a solution soon," when questioned about it.

In addition to streamlining the paperwork process, the BJP is actively combating the falsehoods that the Trinamul Congress is attempting to disseminate.

"I will resign as an MP if you can show me one individual who has lost their citizenship as a result of CAA. No one will lose their citizenship, I promise. Mamata Banerjee is disseminating false information, according to Ranaghat BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar.

To dispel people's doubts about CAA, the BJP is initiating a vast outreach campaign, especially in Matua-dominated areas like Ranaghat, Krishnanagar, Bongaon, Barasat, and Basirhat.

"There are not many applications because people are perplexed." Only this week will we begin to engage with the public, a top BJP official declared.

The 42 district presidents will receive training from the BJP over the course of the upcoming week so they can assist individuals in applying online and engage with the public. In order to allay public uncertainty and worries about CAA, the BJP also intends to hand out pamphlets and brochures.

Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by Press Time staff and has been published from a syndicated feed.