Farmers Movement Archive

No need for CAA, refugees and Matuas already citizens: West Bengal CM

BONGAON: Chief minister Mamata Banerjee reached out to Bongaon, in North 24 Parganas district along the Indo-Bangladesh border, to list out to the Matuas all she had promised them before rival BJP tried to woo the community with citizenship under Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as BJP president J P Nadda had announced during his last visit to West Bengal. “I am not like BJP that says many things ahead of polls. I keep my word. We have already set up Matua Development Board and allotted Rs 10 crore for its functioning. The work on Harichand-Guruchand Thakur University is on. I have also decided to mark Matua leader Harichand Thakur’s birthday on April 9 as a state holiday,” the CM said at a public rally at Bongaon’s Gopalnagar on Wednesday. Banerjee further said there was no need for CAA because Matuas and refugees from East Pakistan and later Bangladesh already enjoyed all the rights and amenities a citizen was entitled to. The Matuas, a religious sect mainly comprising namasudras, had migrated from Orakandi in Gopalganj of Bangladesh to this border district. They are key to determining the fate of political leaders in at least six border assembly seats — Bongaon Uttar, Bongaon Dakshin, Gaighata, Swarupnagar, Bagda in North 24 Parganas and Haringhata in Nadia. A large section of Matua voters, mainly farmers, went with BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. On Wednesday, Banerjee iterated her support for farmers’ cause against the “anti-farmer” central laws to win Matuas back to her fold when Matua leader and BJP MP Shantanu Thakur had publicly expressed his “disappointment” over BJP not keeping the citizenship promise till date. From the rally venue, Banerjee announced that “the Matuas and refugees who came over to India are already citizens”. “We have recognized all 94 refugee colonies in Bengal and given them legal status. Even those settling on railway land or private land have been recognized. They are all getting free rations from the government and are included under Swasthya Sathi and Krishak Bandhu schemes. Where is the need for getting citizenship after all these? BJP is trying to divide Bengalis with CAA-NRC-NPR. They will drive Bengalis out of the state and turn Bengal into a Gujarat. We will resist it,” she said. The Trinamool chief hit out at BJP “outsiders”, blaming them for coaxing voters with a bagful of money. “Watch out for these outsiders. They will coax you with a bagful of money. They are out to break political parties and drive a wedge into families. The once CPM harmads have joined them and become their ostads (operators). They will snatch land from farmers and hand over the produce to corporate bodies,” Banerjee said, criticising the Centre’s farm laws. With an eye on Matuas, who are under scheduled caste category, the CM said: “You should know there is no need for enquiry for those applying for caste certificates. The government will issue certificates within a week based on self-declaration if one family member is a scheduled caste.” Near the end of her speech, Banerjee ran out of patience on seeing a group of village resource persons (VRPs) holding placards with the demand for service regularization. “I have had enough of it. Why are you spoiling my rally? You can write to us. We will do it if funds permit. I am really upset with you. I ask the rally organizers to take better initiative in future,” she said.

The Times of India

2020-12-10

Kolkata