Articles by Anirban Sinha Roy

Exempt Matuas in SIR, ensure citizenship: Congress's Adhir Chowdhury to Amit Shah

Amid the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of voters’ lists row in West Bengal, Congress leader and the former party President in Bengal, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, wrote to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, seeking urgent intervention to exempt the Matua community from the strict documentary requirements. He also urged Shah to formally recognise the rightful citizenship of the community. The letter identified Matuas as a migrant community that came from East Pakistan several decades ago, following religious persecution and displacement. Pointing out the community’s concerns about losing their voting rights over the SIR row, Chowdhury claimed that Matuas have played a significant role in shaping governments, both at the state and central levels, and it is unrealistic to ask for nearly 25-year-old documents from a historically marginalised and displaced population. .Emphasising the government’s decision to extend the CAA cutoff date for “victims of religious persecution” from 31 December 2014 to 31 December 2024, Chowdhury then urged that similar humanitarian consideration be extended to the community, which has been long-settled, and a significant part of India’s social fabric.He also sought an ordinance before the forthcoming winter session of Parliament to secure their citizenship and protect their voting rights in Assembly and Parliamentary elections..preferred-source-banner{ margin-top: 10px; margin-bottom:10px;}The letter came against the backdrop of an ongoing hunger strike in West Bengal’s Thakurnagar, against the implementation of SIR in the state. Chowdhury visited the protest site upon the invitation of the All India Matua Mahasangha. He assured them to stand by them in the crisis.- EndsPublished By: Akash ChatterjeePublished On: Nov 15, 2025Must Watch

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