The All India Matua Mahasangha's Trinamool Congress-backed faction escalated its ongoing agitation on Monday, taking its protest directly to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer in Kolkata. The demonstration focused on key demands concerning citizenship rights and voter registration safeguards for the Matua community, a politically significant refugee group in West Bengal.
March to the Election Commission's Office
The rally, which saw the participation of hundreds of Matua devotees, commenced from Sealdah station. The procession, marked by the beating of drums and the blowing of horns and conch shells, proceeded towards the CEO's office in the afternoon. By around 4 PM, the crowd had assembled, creating a chaotic scene outside the electoral office. Police were forced to erect barricades at Ganesh Chandra Avenue to manage the large gathering.
The protest was politically notable for the presence of senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury. Upon being halted at the police barricade, Chowdhury climbed onto a makeshift dais on a vehicle to address the protesters. He reiterated his solidarity with the Matua cause, reminding the crowd that he had also joined their recent hunger strike at Thakurbari in Thakurnagar.
Core Demands: Citizenship and Voter Security
The organization's central demands revolve around the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of the electoral roll and the grant of citizenship. Sukesh Chowdhury, general secretary of the AIMM faction led by TMC Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Bala Thakur, outlined the key points.
The faction is demanding a significant simplification of the SIR process. They advocate for the universal acceptance of Aadhaar as valid documentation during voter verification. A primary fear within the community is that names may be arbitrarily removed from the electoral rolls under the guise of the SIR exercise.
"Our key demands include simplification of the SIR process, universal acceptance of Aadhaar during verification and assurance that no Matua or refugee voter will be removed from the rolls," stated Sukesh Chowdhury. He emphatically added, "The names of those who voted in the last Lok Sabha election should be retained."
Political Echoes and Future Agitation
In his address, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury echoed these concerns and took aim at the BJP. "Now, under the guise of SIR, there is fear that their names may be removed from the voters' list. BJP is misleading them through the CAA camp. They must be granted unconditional citizenship. I will always stand by their movement," he declared.
This Kolkata rally follows a recent hunger strike organized by the same faction at its Thakurbari headquarters in Thakurnagar, which also centered on the demand for unconditional citizenship. The leadership has warned of further escalation if their concerns are not addressed. Mamata Bala Thakur had previously indicated that the organization would launch an agitation in Delhi in December should their demands remain unmet.
The protest concluded on Monday evening with representatives submitting a formal memorandum to the Election Commission officials. Sukesh Chowdhury reported that the CEO assured the delegation he would seriously look into the matter and convey their demands to the Election Commission of India. The memorandum reiterated the calls for unconditional citizenship, a streamlined SIR procedure, and the prevention of any removal of existing Matua voters from the lists.
