Bengal's concerns

The CAB and the NRC have emerged as the two issues that will decide the political destiny of West Bengal.

- SUHRID SANKAR CHATTOPADHYAY

HISTORICALLY, WEST BENGAL HAS witnessed the highest rate of migration in the country through its long, porous borders with Bangladesh (2,216.7 kilometres) and Nepal (96 km). Apart from the two major migrations that took place from Bangladesh in 1947 and 1971, there has been a steady and continuous influx of people. Every year, border guards intercept thousands of people trying to enter the country and refugee rehabilitation is a serious concern of the State government. During the Communist Party of India (Marxist)-led Left Front regime, the State government even set up a separate department for refugee rehabilitation. The current Trinamool Congress government regularised 92 refugee colonies in November 2019.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Bill (CAB)has created a divide among the refugees on religious grounds. This is spreading panic not only among the refugees who have settled in the State for decades but also in the Muslim population which accounts for 27 per cent of the total population (as per the 2011 Census). There is a fear that the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which will inevitably follow the CAB, will make millions of Muslims stateless. The public outcry against the passing of the CAB in both Houses of Parliament has been louder than the relatively muted celebrations among certain “Hindu refugee” communities.