CAA grants, not takes away, citizenship: Bengal CM
Kolkata, Aug 1
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday said the Citizenship Act, 2019, is not about taking away citizenship but granting it.
He made the remarks after distributing Indian citizenship certificates to 300 members of the Matua community from North 24 Parganas district at an event in New Town, Kolkata.
The Chief Minister announced that all pending applications for citizenship under the CAA in West Bengal would be disposed of within the next six months.
Speaking at the programme, Adhikari said, "The CAA is meant to grant citizenship, not to take away anyone's citizenship. Eligible people must come forward and apply under the Act. More certificates will be issued in the coming months."
The CAA seeks to grant Indian citizenship to refugees from six communities -- Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians -- who sought shelter in India before December 31, 2014, due to religious persecution in Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan.
Adhikari said 23,956 citizenship certificates had been issued so far, including 5,966 over the past 11 weeks since the new Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government was formed in the state.
According to him, 2,30,605 applications have been received across the state. Nadia district recorded the highest number of beneficiaries with 10,191 certificates, followed by North 24 Parganas with 8,930.
"Following discussions with the Union Home Secretary, the process of delegating legal and administrative powers to district magistrates for speedy disposal of CAA applications is expected to begin within a month," he said.
He criticised the previous Trinamool Congress government for misleading people on the CAA issue.
"The previous government projected the CAA as the NRC and misled the people, particularly the Muslim community. False propaganda was spread claiming that applying under the CAA would result in loss of jobs, ration benefits or the Lakshmir Bhandar scheme. Today, the truth has come out, and even opposition MLAs have attended this programme voluntarily," Adhikari said.
— IANS
Reader Comments
It's about time. Refugees from Bangladesh who faced persecution deserve a dignified life. Glad the red tape is being cut and beneficiaries are finally getting their papers.
While I understand the relief for eligible refugees, the previous government's fear-mongering did cause unnecessary panic among minorities. CAA is clearly NOT NRC. People should read the Act instead of believing rumours. Logon ko sacchai samajhni chahiye!
Finally someone speaking sense. CAA is humanitarian and inclusive. Kudos to the administration for prioritizing those who were left in limbo for decades. Transparency in the process is the need of the hour. 🙏
Great initiative! But I hope the government also ensures that no genuine applicant is left out due to lack of documents. Simplifying the paperwork requirement would help many elderly refugees who fled during the 1971 war and never had proper records.
The previous TMC government did such a disservice to these poor refugees. They played politics with people's lives. Now the truth is out - opposition MLAs themselves are attending these programmes voluntarily. Politics over humanity never works.
Good to see efficient governance. 5,966 certificates in 11 weeks shows seriousness. But the real test is whether this momentum continues. Need
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