Shah assures Hindu refugees on citizenship, targets TMC

Amid mounting concerns over the exclusion of nearly 63 lakh names from the final electoral roll published recently by the Election Commission of India, Union home minister Amit Shah today sought to reassure Hindu refugees that their citizenship would remain protected under a BJP-led Centre.

Addressing a public meeting in the Scheduled Caste-dominated Mathurapur constituency, Mr Shah said: “The BJP government is in power at the Centre. Not a single Hindu refugee will lose citizenship.” His remarks come against the backdrop of anxiety among sections of the Matua community and other refugee groups, many of whom fear exclusion from the voter list could eventually jeopardise their status. With the West Bengal Assembly election approaching, the BJP has launched its state-wide ‘Parivartan Yatra’ covering all 294 Assembly constituencies. Senior party leaders and Union ministers are scheduled to participate in the campaign aimed at energising the cadre ahead of the polls.

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Mr Shah attended the Mathurapur rally as part of that outreach programme. Explaining the objective of the yatra, the Union home minister said the initiative was not merely about changing the chief minister but about ushering in broader transformation.

“Parivartan Yatra has begun for a change in Bengal. Change does not only mean replacing the chief minister; it means the people of Bengal bringing a change. And change means building an infiltration-free Bengal,” he asserted. Stepping up his attack on the ruling Trinamul Congress, Mr Shah accused the state government of corruption, referring to the alleged teacher recruitment irregularities and naming several leaders. Without mentioning him directly, he also took a swipe at Trinamul national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. The home minister further promised that if voted to power in the state, the BJP would implement the Seventh Pay Commission for state government employees within 45 days.

“Central government employees receive salaries as per the Seventh Pay Commission and the Eighth will also come. But in Bengal, government employees have been deprived,” he claimed, alleging that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has failed to extend similar benefits.

The Trinamul Congress, however, has consistently rejected the BJP’s allegations, describing them as politically motivated ahead of the elections.