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Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Friday mounted a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the issue of citizenship for the Matua community, daring him to either fulfil his assurance of unconditional citizenship or step down from office. Banerjee accused the Prime Minister of failing to honour commitments made to the Namashudra Hindu community, many of whom migrated from Bangladesh without valid travel documents after facing religious persecution.
Addressing the issue, Banerjee said, “The PM has spoken about giving unconditional citizenship to the Matuas. Now, if you say they are illegal, then by that logic, you are also illegal too. Today, to apply for citizenship, copies of passport and visa details are required. So, either give unconditional citizenship or step down from the chair.” He made the remarks while standing inside the sanctum of the Harichand–Guruchand temples at Thakurnagar in Bongaon, considered the spiritual and organisational centre of the Matua Mahasangha.
The Trinamool leader further alleged that none of the promises made by the Prime Minister during previous rallies in Ranaghat and Bongaon had been fulfilled. “The Prime Minister, from his previous rallies in Ranaghat or Bongaon, has not fulfilled even a single promise he made. The widening of NH-12 till Baro Jagulia is still incomplete. The Kalyani AIIMS is also not fully functional,” he said.
Earlier in the day, following a public meeting in Taherpur, Nadia, Banerjee travelled to the neighbouring Bongaon subdivision in North 24 Parganas district and visited the Thakurnagar temples, where he offered prayers to Harichand Thakur and Guruchand Thakur, the 19th-century social reformers and founders of the Matua sect.
During the visit, Banerjee was accompanied by Mamatabala Thakur, Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP and a prominent Matua Mahasangha leader. She represents the Trinamool-aligned faction of the sect’s first family, while the other faction is currently led by BJP MP and Union minister Shantanu Thakur.
Banerjee’s presence in the region, widely regarded as a BJP stronghold due to the party’s electoral gains in recent years, was seen as politically significant amid growing concerns among Matua voters over possible disenfranchisement linked to the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in West Bengal. The community is believed to wield considerable influence in nearly 70 assembly constituencies across the state, where elections are scheduled in the coming months.
Tensions briefly escalated ahead of the visit after Shantanu Thakur initially objected, stating that Banerjee would not be allowed to enter the Thakurbari with a large entourage. He later softened his stance, saying he had no objection if the visit was limited to prayer without a show of political strength.
Responding to the situation, Banerjee said, “Everyone has the right to come here. Whenever I come here, I come with respect.” He added, “We do not believe in political violence, coercion, or force. That is why I silently prayed to Sri Sri Harichand Thakur that even if I am not allowed to enter the temple, He will give the answer from wherever He is.”
Choosing not to engage in overt political messaging within the temple premises, Banerjee later addressed concerns over voter list revisions, saying the BJP must explain why it “politically exploited the emotions of the Matuas and then betrayed them.” He concluded by challenging the saffron party to seek votes based on performance, stating, “I dare the BJP to come with their development report card, stating what their government at the Centre has done for the people of this subdivision or district, and then knock on people's door for votes, like we have been doing by submitting the report card of the Mamata Banerjee government.”
