On the first day of voting in Bengal, the PM will pay obeisance at a community shrine in Bangladesh; Matu won 40 seats
On 27 March, the first day of voting in West Bengal, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will pay tribute to Harichand Thakur, the founder of the Matua sect in Orkandi, Bangladesh. The Matua Dalits who migrated from East Bengal to West Bengal, now Bangladesh, are at the center of BJP politics around the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA). They make up one-fifth of the state’s scheduled caste population and can affect the result in about 40 assembly seats.
The BJP hopes that the Prime Minister’s visit to West Bengal will wind up its sail. Santonu Thakur, a Bontan MP and Matua leader visiting Bangladesh with Mr. Modi, said, “We are happy that the Prime Minister is visiting Orkandi, which is sacred to the Matus. We are proud of development. “
An Ambedkarite section fears a fight against the community in Bangladesh and does not even suggest that it can happen spontaneously. “Today there are about one crore Matu in Bangladesh. The Prime Minister’s visit will put him at risk of violence by Islamists, and I think this is what the BJP wants. They can then campaign on the Hindu-Muslim agenda in West Bengal, ”Sharadendu Biswas, Matua activist and director of Jai Bhim India Network.
‘Not a refugee’
Campaigning along the international border dividing Bengalis on religious lines may help the BJP in elections, but it also proves the futility of the CAA as a means to appease Matu, according to Mr. Biswas. “Orkandi is our sacred place, which is not in India. But India is also our land. Matu resented the use of the word refugee. We are not refugees here. With the community continuing in cross-border contact religiously and socially, the BJP’s idea of a rigid border between the two countries is a threat to the Matua. “We are for soft borders that allow communication between us, although we are divided between two countries.”
“As far as sealing of borders between West Bengal and Bangladesh is concerned, we have not heard of any such proposal and I cannot comment in advance. This is a matter of future, ”said Mr. Thakur.
East Bengal became East Pakistan in 1947 on the basis of religious nationalism; In 1971, it became Bangladesh on the basis of linguistic nationalism. Millions of people crossed the border on both occasions. The birth of Bangladesh exposed the two-nation doctrine on the one hand, but subsequent developments drove more non-Muslims out of the country.
Bangladesh immigrants did not think of anything in India until 2003, when the then BJP government amended the Citizenship Act, 1955 to put a definition of an “illegal migrant” who could be jailed or deported. Matua rose in protest. The BJP promised a new CAA, which makes a distinction between Hindus and Muslims. “Matua was very excited in the beginning. But gradually he began to realize that acquiring citizenship under the 2019 CAA would be a subversive process – accept that you are illegal, declare that you were tortured, ”said Mr. Vishwas.
Mamta’s stand
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that Matu was already an Indian citizen and did not need any new laws – he wants to retain the post. Matua leaders in non-BJP parties demand that all the people included in the electoral rolls in 2019 should be treated as citizens without any further process. Facing questions over its implementation, the BJP has fallen silent on the CAA in 2021. Home Minister Amit Shah has said that the rules will be notified in due time. Non-BJP parties also do not talk about the CAA – as any criticism of it is widely seen as Muslim appeasement. Shri Thakur said that BJP is committed to the implementation of CAA. “The Center alone can assure its implementation. It does not matter what the Trinamool Congress says. The Center has assured the implementation of CAA and we look forward to its implementation. “
Limited options
The BJP has tied itself into the politics of its citizenship, but Matu has limited options. Being a victim of Islamism, a large section of them appeals to Hindutva. Many of them also oppose Ms. Banerjee’s displeasure towards Muslims. BJP’s view of matua politics is that India is a natural homeland for all Hindus. They can still keep their holy sites across the political boundaries of India, Mr. Modi plans to visit Orkandi.
(With inputs
Shiv Sahai Singh)
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