Matua Fears Ignored: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has sharply criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech at the Taherpur rally in West Bengal, accusing him of showing a “lack of concern” for the anxieties of the Matua community. The controversy stems from the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, which has triggered widespread fear among the Matuas about identity, citizenship, and voting rights.
🔹 Who Are the Matuas?
- The Matua community is a Dalit Hindu refugee group that migrated from Bangladesh over decades due to religious persecution.
- They have become a key political constituency in Bengal, with both the BJP and TMC vying for their support.
- Their concerns are deeply tied to citizenship laws, refugee rights, and electoral inclusion, making them a decisive factor in upcoming elections.
🔹 Electoral Roll Controversy
- The SIR exercise, the first statewide revision since 2002, has led to 58,20,898 names being excluded from draft rolls.
- West Bengal’s electorate shrank from 7.66 crore to 7.08 crore.
- Around 1.36 crore entries were flagged for discrepancies, and nearly 30 lakh voters were marked as unmapped.
- This means 1.66 crore voters may face hearings, and community leaders claim a large portion of these belong to the Matuas.
- For the Matuas, this raises existential fears about being disenfranchised or even questioned about their citizenship.
🔹 TMC’s Criticism of Modi
- Kunal Ghosh, TMC state general secretary, accused Modi of ignoring these anxieties in his rally speech.
- He said Modi’s address “lacked vision and responsibility” and failed to reassure the Matuas.
- Ghosh also alleged Modi avoided discussing harassment of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states, citing the case of Sunali Khatun, a migrant who was deported to Bangladesh but returned after judicial intervention.
- TMC further criticized the Centre for withholding funds for welfare schemes in Bengal, including the 100-day rural employment program, housing projects, and drinking water initiatives.
🔹 Public Anger and Rally Fallout
- TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty claimed that public anger was visible even before Modi’s speech, with posters reading “Narendra Modi go back”.
- Tragically, three BJP workers died and three others were injured while traveling to the rally, after being hit by a train in dense fog. TMC blamed this on poor crowd management.
🔹 Modi’s Counterattack
- Modi, addressing the rally remotely from Kolkata, accused the TMC government of running a “maha jungle raj” (lawless state).
- He alleged corruption, nepotism, and appeasement had blocked development in Bengal.
- He urged voters to give the BJP a chance in the 2026 assembly polls, promising a “double-engine government” (BJP at both state and Centre) to accelerate progress.
🔹 CPI(M)’s Perspective
- CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty added that the Matua community is unhappy with both BJP and TMC.
- He argued that both parties have used the Matuas as a vote bank, while failing to deliver on the crucial issue of citizenship.
✨ Matua Fears Ignored: Broader Implications
- The Matua vote could be a deciding factor in the 2026 Bengal assembly elections.
- The citizenship debate (linked to NRC and CAA) continues to haunt refugee communities, making electoral roll revisions highly sensitive.
- The Centre vs. State conflict over welfare funds adds another layer of tension, with TMC portraying itself as the protector of Bengal’s poor against alleged BJP neglect.
- The deaths of BJP workers en route to the rally highlight the risks of large-scale mobilization and the political stakes involved.
📌 Key Takeaways
- TMC’s attack: Modi ignored Matua fears, avoided refugee harassment issues, and blocked welfare funds.
- Electoral anxiety: Over 1.6 crore voters face hearings; many are Matuas.
- Modi’s defense: He accused TMC of corruption and urged voters to back BJP in 2026.
- CPI(M)’s critique: Both BJP and TMC are accused of exploiting the Matuas without solving their citizenship concerns.
- Political stakes: The Matua community remains a crucial swing vote in Bengal politics.
Government External Links for Assistance
- Government of West Bengal: https://wb.gov.in
- Election Commission of India: https://eci.gov.in
- Ministry of Tribal Affairs: https://tribal.nic.in
- Ministry of Home Affairs: https://mha.gov.in
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