Bangla CM. Mamata Banerjee was angered by Modi's demand of Indian citizenship for the Matua community from Orakandi in Bangladesh . Modi has made a point on the Matua question in line with the Matua Mahasangha, which has been talking of citizenship for all members of the community, even those who crossed over recently.
Matua refugees who came to India during Partition in 1947 or when Bangladesh was formed in 1971 were granted citizenship but those who migrated subsequently have no rights.
While Mamata has been quick to secure the former's support as they hold voting rights, by making the son of the community's leader a minister and fielding another in the ongoing Lok Sabha election, she is silent on the citizenship issue.
Modi argued, "If you like Bangladeshis so much, why have you denied Matuas citizenship rights while allowing infiltrators to take away jobs that rightfully belong to sons of the soil? They come and take away Rs 100-a-day job by working for Rs 40. Bangladeshis don't have the right to snatch away your future," .
But raised a difficult question to Didi, that made her angry. Modi has pointed knowingly to the fact status of these Matua refugees, who came to India during Partition in 1947 or when Bangladesh was formed in 1971, and were granted citizenship, but those who migrated subsequently have no rights.
While Mamata has been quick to secure the former's support by making the son of the community's leader a minister and fielding another in the ongoing Lok Sabha election, she is silent on the citizenship issue.
Mahasangha dharma pracharak Rabi Haldar clarified,“We don’t believe in any cut-off date, like 1971. We demand Indian citizenship for all Matuas coming from Bangladesh. We’ll hold a march in New Delhi on this demand,” .
INDIA HONEST justifies Didi's anger, as she questioned Modi, “Who are you Haridas Pal ? and correctly asked “Have they (BJP) gone mad? What citizenship is he talking about? I have a minister from the Matua community in my cabinet,".
IH reasons if appointing one minister from the Matua community solves the problem of thousands of other Matua community members, who are neglected only because they are not eligible to vote and hence not of any importance for most of the political parties.If demanding justice for these deprived Matua members makes Modi a Hardas Pal, Bangla people will love more Haridas Pals.