Sitting on a plastic chair with paperwork in hand inside the assistance middle arrange at Thakurbari’s Matua headquarters in Thakurnagar, 75-year-old Motilal Halder asks how lengthy it can take to acquire citizenship underneath the Citizenship Modification Act (CAA). Haldar, who got here to West Bengal from Bangladesh in 1997, stated he was deeply involved in regards to the Particular Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral register as his identify was not on the 2002 electoral roll.
And Halder shouldn’t be alone. Like him, hundreds of Matua dwelling in and round Thakurnagar, the Matua capital of North 24 Parganas district, about 90 km from Kolkata and near the Bangladesh border, stay their days in concern over the SIR train. Muslims, too, have remained cautious ever for the reason that Election Fee (EC) introduced that it might concentrate on border districts throughout the claims and objections stage, citing quite a few “logical inconsistencies” within the enumeration varieties submitted. The Indian Categorical traveled alongside the Jessore Highway (NH 35) from Bongaon, close to the Bangladesh border, and spoke to members of each communities, who will play key roles in subsequent 12 months’s meeting elections.
For the Matua group, nervousness has elevated for the reason that draft listing was launched this month, with 58,000 names faraway from the listing, together with in meeting constituencies akin to Kasbah and Sonalpur Dakshin in South 24 Parganas and Bongaon Uttar in North 24 Parganas, which have a major native inhabitants. Issues amongst teams with affect over the election had been additional heightened on Monday when Union Minister and Bongaon MP Shantanu Thakur, a member of the community-leading Thakur household, requested: “If excluding 500,000 Pakistanis, Bangladeshi Muslims and Rohingyas signifies that 100,000 folks from my group are quickly disenfranchised, which possibility is extra helpful?”
On Wednesday, clashes broke out between BJP and Trinamool Congress (TMC) employees in Thakurnagar after Chief Minister Thakur reiterated that nobody can deny that a number of Matua names shall be faraway from the voter listing throughout the SIR and that’s the reason “we’re asking everybody to use underneath the CAA.” Shantanu’s aunt, TMC’s Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Bala Thakur, informed Categorical that she was overwhelmed up by occasion supporters when she went to the Union minister looking for a proof, whereas a BJP chief accused her aunt of sending a gang to assault Shantanu.
Since August, either side have been organizing camps to assist folks like Haldar get hold of paperwork in case their names are faraway from voter lists. Whereas the TMC and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee have claimed that the SIR marks a “backdoor entry” into the proposed Nationwide Register of Residents (NRC) that might lead to hundreds of Matuas shedding their citizenship, the BJP has intervened to allay the group’s considerations, accusing the TMC of spreading misinformation and stating that the CAA ensures citizenship for the Matuas.
“I’ve submitted an software underneath the CAA. I’ve additionally stuffed the SIR type. My two sons had been born in India. All three of us have voter ID playing cards. Since they had been born right here, they are going to be allowed to remain. Nonetheless, apart from these associated to the land bought right here in 2014, I I haven’t got any proof right here. If I’m not allowed to have a voter card and I’m not allowed to stay right here, the place will I am going? They stated it can take 4-6 months (for the CAA software to be accomplished). Will I be kicked out if my identify is faraway from the voter listing? ” asks Halder.
Argyadip Mondal, 31, a volunteer on the camp arrange by the All India Matua Mahasangha in Thakurbari, additionally stated it might take 4 to 6 months to acquire citizenship underneath the CAA. He claims that greater than 2,000 functions have been filed up to now 4 months.
Fulmoni Roy, 55, a resident of Nadia, says she doesn’t have a voter card. “All I’ve is the Matua card and Hindu card that they (Mahasangha) gave me. No roll sheet was issued in opposition to my identify as my identify shouldn’t be within the electoral roll right here. I do not know what to do.”
Sonali Rani Biswas (45), a resident of Barasat close to Gaighata bus stand, who has additionally utilized for citizenship underneath the CAA, stated she might submit registration paperwork for the land her household purchased right here in 2014 provided that summoned by the EC. “I do not know what is going to occur after that,” she added.
The Matuas type the most important group of the Namashudras, the most important scheduled caste group within the state. They’re electorally essential to the BJP’s plans because it needs to construct a pan-Hindu help base with Matuas at its core (their help helped it win 18 seats in West Bengal in 2019). The BJP is subsequently doing its greatest to allay considerations amongst Matuas over SIR and counter the TMC’s makes an attempt accountable it for its alleged makes an attempt to disenfranchise members of the group. The state authorities estimates that Matua make up about 17% of the state’s citizens and have a robust presence in 30 Home of Representatives constituencies, however the group’s personal estimates say they make up about 20% of constituencies and will affect 40 to 45 seats.
Muslims count on a summons
Whereas the draft listing reveals the removing charge of Muslim-majority parliamentary seats, the EC’s planning listening to over alleged discrepancies within the enumeration varieties has additionally raised considerations amongst minority communities in North 24 Parganas.
Ansar Ali Mullah (56), a resident of Duttapukur city, stated he was afraid of being summoned as a result of his identify within the 2002 listing was Md Ansari Ali Mollah. The discrepancy within the father’s identify can be a trigger for concern for Abul Kalam, 45.
One of many “logical contradictions” the EC is taking a look at is voters who’ve six or extra kids, based on ballot company officers. “We’re 10 brothers and sisters. We is likely to be summoned to a listening to. That is why we’re fearful. We’ve all of the paperwork, however it’s harassment to go there and stand in line for hours to indicate them,” stated Jahangir Hossain, 37, a instructor.
Some residents of the world declare that the names of people that have moved throughout the border up to now 20 years had been on draft rolls. “Right here, virtually all Muslims are outdated residents and have land paperwork. However the Muslims we all know are those that got here from Bangladesh within the final 10 or 20 years and their names are already on the draft listing. So what’s the objective of SIR?” asks Saheb Ali, 43.
