‘Further delay in CAA implementation to harm BJP’s help base in Bengal’: Party MLA

By PTI

KOLKATA: Exuding confidence that Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) can be carried out earlier than the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, BJP MLA Asim Sarkar on Friday mentioned that any additional delay in implementing the legislation would damage the get together’s help base amongst refugees The ruling TMC, which has been against CAA, mentioned it might by no means enable the “draconian law” to return into impact within the state.

Sarkar, a BJP legislator from Matua community-dominated Haringhata, mentioned {that a} part of refugees had trusted the saffron get together because it promised to implement the legislation, and accordingly ensured its victory in 18 Lok Sabha seats of the state in 2019.

Matuas, who make up a big chunk of the state’s Scheduled Caste inhabitants, had been migrating to West Bengal from erstwhile East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) because the Nineteen Fifties, primarily on account of spiritual persecution.

“We are hopeful that CAA will be implemented before the next Lok Sabha polls. If it is not implemented, it will hurt the party’s support base among the refugees.”

“If anyone is serious about the cause of the refugees, it is the BJP; other parties have opposed the CAA. I won’t be able to seek votes for the party in those areas (where refugees have settled) next time if it’s not implemented,” he advised reporters.

Sarkar additionally mentioned he had written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, explaining the “consequences” if CAA, handed in December 2019, just isn’t introduced into pressure.

The promise of implementing the controversial CAA had been a serious ballot plank of the BJP within the final Lok Sabha electionsand state polls.

Downplaying Sarkar’s issues, West Bengal BJP spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya mentioned, “It was an emotional outburst. The party will speak to him.”

The ruling TMC, nonetheless, asserted it might by no means enable the BJP to implement the legislation.

“We don’t believe in the divisive politics of the BJP,” state parliamentary affairs minister Partha Chatterjee mentioned.

CAA seeks to grant Indian citizenship to persecuted minorities like Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis and Christians from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, who had entered India on or earlier than December 31, 2014.

The Centre has mentioned that citizenship to the eligible beneficiaries of CAA will likely be given solely after guidelines underneath the laws are notified.

Around 30 lakh Matuas reside in West Bengal, with the group electorally influencing at the least 5 Lok Sabha seats and almost 50 meeting seats in Nadia, North and South 24 Parganas districts.