Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday said that citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act ( CAA) would be fast tracked for refugee communities if the BJP comes to power in West Bengal.
Addressing a rally in Katwa , Purba Bardhaman , Modi said that communities such as Matuas and Namasudras would receive quicker citizenship benefits . He said that these groups are protected under the law and their rights do not depend on any political party . The Prime Minister also spoke on “illegal immigration” , saying that ‘ infiltrators’ who have entered the country unlawfully would be identified and action would be taken against them.
The Citizenship Amendment Act ( CAA) passed in 2019 allows fast tract Indian citizenship for non Muslim migrants that is Hindus , Sikhs , Buddhists, Jains ,Parsis and Christians from Pakistan , Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014.
The law became a major topic of discussion after protests broke out across the country , with critics saying it excludes Muslims and violates equality principles . The government has said that the act is meant to help persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries . In West Bengal the issue remains politically important , especially among refugee communities such as Matuas.
His remarks came a day after the West Bengal BJP’s manifesto pledged citizenship and rehabilitation for Hindu refugees, a move seen as targeting Matua and Namasudra voters amid concerns over voter roll deletions during the Special Intensive Revision exercise. The remarks come as a part of BJP’s campaign for the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections , where issues of citizenship and refugee rights remain central. The party has also promised legal recognition and rehabilitation for Hindu refugee communities in it’s election outreach.
The Citizenship Amendment Act continues to be a major political issue in the state , with differing views between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress .
