Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced his government's commitment to granting citizenship to the Matua Namasudra community under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) during a recent election campaign rally in West Bengal. The pledge was delivered while addressing a public gathering, ahead of upcoming electoral contests in the state, which has a significant Matua population.

The Matua community, predominantly Scheduled Caste Hindus, migrated to India from Bangladesh (then East Pakistan) following the 1947 Partition and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. Many have resided in India for decades without formal citizenship, leading to a long-standing demand for naturalization. The CAA, enacted by the Indian Parliament in December 2019, aims to provide a pathway to Indian citizenship for persecuted non-Muslim minorities—Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis, and Christians—who arrived from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan before December 31, 2014.

During his address, Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the CAA had been passed by Parliament and that "no one can stop it," reinforcing his administration's resolve to implement the law. He reiterated that the Act's purpose was to offer citizenship to those who had experienced displacement and persecution, clarifying that it was not designed to revoke the citizenship of existing Indian nationals. The Matua vote bank is considered electorally influential across several Lok Sabha and Assembly constituencies in West Bengal, making this issue a significant factor in the state's political landscape.

Key details regarding the CAA and the Matua community:

  • CAA Notification: The rules for the Citizenship Amendment Act were officially notified by the central government in March 2024, nearly four years after the Act was passed, paving the way for its operationalization.
  • Community Origins: The Matua community traces its origins to a religious reform movement founded by Harichand Thakur and his son Guruchand Thakur in undivided Bengal during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
  • Population Estimates: Estimates suggest the Matua population in West Bengal ranges from 1.5 million to 3 million, with significant concentrations in districts such as Nadia and North 24 Parganas. Their presence is particularly strong in parliamentary seats like Bongaon and Ranaghat.
  • Application Process: Following the notification of the rules, an online portal has been launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs for eligible individuals to apply for Indian citizenship under the provisions of the CAA.

The Prime Minister's latest assurance is expected to reinforce the government's stance on the Act's implementation and serve as a key electoral pitch to the Matua community. As the Lok Sabha election campaign progresses in West Bengal, the practical application process through the online portal and the subsequent uptake by eligible individuals will be crucial for the full operationalization of the Act.