Bengal Govt Targets CAA Citizenship for 2.5 Lakh Petitioners by December 31: CM

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday announced that his government would expedite hearings under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and grant citizenship to 2.5 lakh petitioners by December 31, 2026.

Addressing the International Matua Gosai Convention 2026 at Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas district, a traditional stronghold of the Matua community, Adhikari said only 25,000 people had received citizenship under the CAA in West Bengal so far.

"We will expedite the hearing and provide citizenship to 2.5 lakh petitioners by December 31," he said, adding that the government would accelerate the process to ensure eligible applicants receive citizenship.

The chief minister also announced a Rs 50-crore grant for the development of the Matua community. He further said that genuine Scheduled Caste members granted citizenship under the CAA would also be provided with Scheduled Caste certificates.

Crediting the community for the BJP's formation of the government in West Bengal, Adhikari said the Matuas had played an important role in the state's political change.

He also criticised his predecessor Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of neglecting the community and opposing the CAA. He alleged that the previous government had divided the Matua community instead of addressing its concerns.

The CAA provides a pathway to Indian citizenship for eligible members of six non-Muslim minority communities from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, following religious persecution or fear of persecution.

The Matuas, a Scheduled Caste community, trace their origins to present-day Bangladesh and are primarily associated with the Namasudra community. The social reform movement emerged in the late 19th century under the leadership of Harichand Thakur.