Union Minister Shantanu Thakur
Union Minister Shantanu Thakur, a BJP MP from Bongaon Lok Sabha seat, asserted on Monday that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) would be implemented nationwide within a week. Thakur, addressing a public rally in Kakdwip, highlighted the significance of the CAA and emphasized its implementation in West Bengal and across the country.
The CAA, enacted in 2019 by the BJP-led government, aims to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim immigrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who entered India before December 31, 2014. Thakur, also a prominent Matua community leader, outlined plans for the swift implementation of the contentious legislation.
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The Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal dismissed Thakur’s claim as “poll rhetoric,” expressing strong opposition to the CAA’s implementation in the state. TMC leaders, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, criticized the BJP for raising the CAA issue ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, labeling it as divisive.
Thakur’s statement comes amid reports suggesting that the rules for the CAA would be notified “much before” the announcement of the Lok Sabha elections. The Matua community, a significant voting bloc in West Bengal, is expected to benefit the most from the CAA’s implementation.
The TMC, consistently opposing the CAA, accused the BJP of exploiting the citizenship issue for political gains. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee advised locals to ensure their names are on the voters’ list to protect themselves from the CAA.
While the West Bengal BJP unit declined to comment on Thakur’s statement, BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar expressed optimism about the CAA’s implementation before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. Union Home Minister Amit Shah reiterated last month that the implementation of CAA is inevitable.
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The CAA has been a major electoral platform for the BJP in previous polls in West Bengal, with the party viewing it as a pivotal factor in its ascent in the state. Despite consistent opposition, the Home Ministry has been seeking extensions for framing the rules of the CAA since 2020.
The CAA issue has been a source of contention, with protests erupting after its passage in Parliament. The TMC accuses the BJP of using the CAA for political gain, while the BJP remains committed to its implementation, considering it a crucial legislation for the country.
