A statement by junior Union minister Shantanu Thakur has sent fresh waves of unease through the Matua community in West Bengal, already anxious over the citizenship verification process. Thakur hinted at the possible deletion of one lakh Matua names from voter rolls as a consequence of the Silent Invisible Rigging (SIR) exercise.
Minister's Controversial Calculation
Speaking at a public meeting in Bagdah's Garapota on Monday, Thakur, who also heads the BJP-backed faction of the All India Matua Mahasangha, presented a stark choice. "If excluding 50 lakh infiltrators means that one lakh people from my community are temporarily deprived of voting, which option is more beneficial?" he asked the gathering.
He urged the Matua community to endure difficulties in cooperation with the Centre. The minister argued that the deletion of one lakh Matua names would be acceptable if it led to the removal of 50 lakh names belonging to Rohingya, Bangladeshi Muslims, Pakistani Muslims, and other infiltrators.
TMC's Furious Backlash and Accusations of Betrayal
The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) launched a fierce counterattack, labeling Thakur's comments a cynical betrayal. In a post on X, the party accused the BJP of dangling the "mirage of citizenship" before the Matuas for years, only to stab them in the back after securing their votes.
The TMC statement further alleged, "Now, with the EC reduced to their obedient B-team, BJP has rammed through their Silent Invisible Rigging (SIR) abomination in Bengal." The party claimed this process forces millions into a humiliating litmus test designed to strip them of their voting rights.
Ground Reality: Notices, Hearings, and Mounting Fear
The political rhetoric coincides with tangible fear on the ground. Following the publication of draft electoral rolls on December 16, more than one lakh voters from the Matua heartland are likely to receive hearing notices. This region spans four assembly constituencies in North 24 Parganas's Bongaon subdivision.
Community members express a sense of broken promises. Swapan Gayen, a resident of Thakurnagar, said, "Our MP (Shantanu Thakur) earlier assured us that no Matua names would be deleted... But now, he is talking about deleting one lakh Matua names." Many lack the 11 documents listed by the Election Commission for the hearings, despite applying for CAA certificates at camps.
While district officials suggest 15–20% of those flagged might be safe due to pre-received citizenship certificates, anxiety is pervasive. Even those who have received SMS alerts from the Union home ministry confirming certificate issuance worry about timely delivery.
Swapan Gosai, a Matua community leader, highlighted the profound implications: "If our names are deleted, the impact will go beyond voting — it will deepen uncertainty about our citizenship." He noted that many have been voting for 15 years, possessing EPIC and Aadhaar cards, and participated in the last Lok Sabha election.
Thakur's Push for CAA and Late-Night Assurance
During his Monday address, Thakur strongly advocated for the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), calling it an "extremely important issue." He emphasized that having a voter or ration card does not confer citizenship and urged those who came from Bangladesh to apply under CAA.
This stance marks a shift from earlier assurances. Sources indicate Thakur had for months promised the community that everyone would get citizenship and retain their voter list position. Camps in Thakurnagar even distributed Hindu identity certificates bearing his signature.
Facing mounting backlash, Thakur attempted damage control on Monday night, asserting that all Matuas would ultimately receive citizenship and keep their voting rights. However, the initial remark has already ignited a political firestorm, leaving the community in a state of heightened suspense and distrust as the hearing process looms.
