New Delhi, Nov 27 (LatestNewsX) — The debate over the Matua community’s citizenship status has resurfaced as the Election Commission carries out its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal, weeks before the state heads to the polls for its next Assembly election.
The state branch of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has reached out to the EC with its own concerns and has offered suggestions for the process. In a letter dated Wednesday, Nov. 26, it urged the authority to tighten the SIR procedure, noting that West Bengal “poses a challenge not faced in the first phase of SIR in Bihar.” The BJP also highlighted that the Matua community, along with other Hindu migrants in similar circumstances, are increasingly frustrated by the lack of clear information about their documentation status.
The Matuas are a socioreligious group of Namashudra Hindus originally from what is now Bangladesh. Millions migrated to India after the partition, with a sharp increase in exodus following the 1971 war that created Bangladesh and the ongoing religious persecution across the border. While many have secured Indian citizenship through lawful means, others who arrived later remain in limbo.
Rumours about the National Register of Citizens (NRC) especially after its implementation in nearby Assam generated widespread fear. Politicians have long used the Matuas’ situation as a strategic asset, given that they are the state’s second‑largest Scheduled Caste group. Historically, many have leaned toward the ruling party as a means of ensuring stability rather than ideological alignment. The passing of their community’s matriarch opened a power vacuum, leading to a split: one faction aligns with the Trinamool Congress (TMC), the other with the BJP.
Union Minister of State Shantanu Thakur (who is himself a Matua) recently claimed that the SIR could lead to the removal of roughly 1.2 crore “illegal voters” from the state’s rolls—a statement that was poorly received by many community members. To ease their worries, Thakur announced support in helping them obtain citizenship documents under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Yet the process still requires proof of domicile, evidence of persecution, and time for document verification.
In light of these challenges, the West Bengal BJP strongly calls on the EC to handle the Matua issue promptly. Party leaders insist that “their concerns need to be proactively addressed through targeted communication, public outreach, and administrative support. Delays or lack of engagement are fostering disillusionment, which must be prevented.”
Meanwhile, supporters of another Matua faction—led by TMC Rajya Sabha MP and Shantanu’s aunt Mamata Thakur—have staged a protest including a fasting march over the SIR. Earlier, TMC Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the Matua heartland of Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas, rallying supporters.
The Matua movement traces back to the late 19th century, founded by Harichand Thakur and his son Guruchand, who organized the Namashudra community around a reformist, egalitarian faith and social upliftment.
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