The Modi government has granted Indian citizenship to 12 Hindu refugees from Bangladesh who had fled to India many years ago to escape religious violence. These families, who arrived with almost nothing, received their citizenship certificates in West Bengal under the Citizenship Amendment Act. For them, it marks the end of decades of fear and uncertainty.
Many of these families said they left East Bengal suddenly, taking only the clothes they were wearing. They said they were pushed out because of their religion and identity. When they reached West Bengal, they had no documents, no land and no home. They believed India would protect them, but life remained difficult because they lived without citizenship.
For years, they could not apply for regular jobs, get passports or access basic services. They said officials often asked them to produce papers from before 1971, which was impossible for families who had fled violence in a hurry. Their struggle continued because political disagreements in West Bengal delayed their citizenship. Refugee families said they lived in constant fear, afraid of being told to leave, of losing their work or of being separated from the country they considered their home.
Their situation began to change after the central government notified CAA rules and started processing citizenship applications. The recent development in West Bengal is being seen as a major moment for communities such as the Matuas and other Hindu refugee groups who migrated during and after Partition.
Many Matua families in places like Thakurbari said they had lived without papers for decades. They said they constantly worried that they might be removed from the country at any time. With citizenship certificates now in their hands, they say they finally feel safe. The help desks and camps opened by the BJP in border districts over the past two months played an important role. Camps in Nadia, Cooch Behar and other regions helped thousands of refugees fill out forms and complete their paperwork. Families who once feared they would never be recognised now say they see a clear future.
The update has come at a sensitive political moment in West Bengal. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently visited Thakurbari and told the Matua community that she would support them. She also warned that she could “shake the entire country” if needed. But the arrival of the citizenship certificates has changed the atmosphere. Members of the community said they had spent years caught between different political promises and did not know which party would actually help them. Now, they say their doubts have reduced and their trust in the central government has grown.
BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said in a post that a long battle for justice had finally reached its proper conclusion. He said Hindu refugees had been denied citizenship in West Bengal for political reasons for many years. He added that while the BJP worked to help persecuted minorities, other parties tried to legalise illegal migrants for vote-bank politics. BJP leaders also compared the situation of refugees with what they described as the TMC’s support for illegal entrants at the border. They said the CAA offers justice to people who escaped atrocities while ensuring that illegal immigration is not encouraged.
For the 12 families who received their documents this week, the moment is emotional. They say their long journey from fear has finally ended. With citizenship, they feel they can now plan their lives, apply for jobs, build homes and educate their children without anxiety. After decades of displacement and political uncertainty, they say they finally feel like they truly belong to India.
A resident of North 24 Parganas who received citizenship described his experience. He said, “Minority people, including Hindus, came from Bangladesh, Pakistan and Afghanistan after facing persecution. When we arrived in India, we were detained by the GRP at the railway station and taken to Barasat and Sealdah, which caused immense fear. Visiting the passport office was another experience of harassment, and our children had to submit many documents for exams or admissions. Now, with citizenship granted under the government’s law, refugees have greatly benefited. On behalf of the refugees, we express our gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.”
