Ahead of the fifth phase of the Lok Sabha elections, Mamata Banerjee made an interesting statement. Addressing a rally in Bangaon constituency, she said: “We are not allowing the NRC and we do not accept the CAA. If they want to give unconditional citizenship, I do not have any objection.”
This was a significant shift from her previous position of completely rejecting the Citizenship Amendment (Act), 2019, whose rules were implemented earlier this year.
Bangaon constituency, which is along the India-Bangladesh border, houses a large number of Matuas. This is a persecuted scheduled caste community from Bangladesh that is seeking a permanent home in India. And so, the five crore Matuas in Bengal saw the CAA as a solution. The BJP had won the Matua-dominated seats in the 2019 Lok Sabha and 2021 assembly elections.
The CAA is also an important factor in seats where Muslims, who form 30 per cent of the state’s population, can influence the results. This was underscored by Home Minister Amit Shah. At a rally in Ranaghat constituency ahead of the fourth phase, he said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was opposing the CAA to protect her “vote bank”. “Mamata Banerjee’s government is giving place to infiltrators, but she opposes giving citizenship to people from the Matua community,” he said. “We will give citizenship to every refugee, this is Narendra Modi’s word.”
Bu hikaye THE WEEK India dergisinin May 26, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye THE WEEK India dergisinin May 26, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Stop ruling; start governing
In every election the voters elect a government.
HEALING THE EARTH
Land Restoration for a Drought-Resilient Future
Speak of the nawab
For Heeramandi's male lead, Taha Shah, the road to success was paved with flops
Northern delights
Four Kashmiri fashion labels that want to put the troubled region on the international style map
WOOING THE WAVES
India is developing strategic ports overseas and is exploring new oceanic trade routes to pursue its growing geopolitical objectives
TIPU, SULTAN!
In his first major election after the death of Mulayam Singh Yadav, Akhilesh humbles the BJP and proves he is his own man
A SLEEPER HIT
Naidu’s stunning victory raises questions about the vote-catching power of welfare schemes
SWEEPING LOSS
AAP’s disappointing performance has put a question mark on its relevance in the INDIA bloc
INDEPENDENTS' DAY
The Lok Sabha results in Baramulla and Ladakh reflect a churning among voters
Voters have changed, and we have benefited
In March 2022, Vice President Venkaiah Naidu asked a quirky question to actor-MP Suresh Gopi, who had come to the Rajya Sabha with a distinctive look.