July 29: The All India Matua Mahasangha (AIMMS) leadership having proximity to BJP thinks that the fresh extension of time sought by the centre for implementation of the Citizenship Act is quite ‘disappointing’. The leadership has claimed that this has also conveyed a “bad message” to the community since the delay would create a fresh fear of “uncertainty” which it has been suffering from for a long.
Nevertheless, the leadership will ‘wait with the watchful eye’ and also try its best to keep the community people ‘convinced’ in favor of the BJP led government at the centre even if it takes more time to implement the Act in Bengal.
The leadership, however, appeared to be in a dilemma about the deadline of such ‘waiting’. But a major section of the community at the grass-roots level which supported the party in the recently held assembly poll demanded that such ‘wait’ must have an end by December 2023.
A major section of the Matua community members having proximity to All India Matua Mahasangha claimed this on Wednesday in the wake of a fresh extension of time sought by centre for implementation of the Citizenship Act.
The extension of time even though created a sort of “restlessness” among the community members, as it will cause more delay in implementation of the Act, nevertheless the leadership decided to continue its support to the BJP at least up to the ‘deadline’.
On Tuesday Minister of state of Home Nityanand Rai while answering a question confirmed that the Committee on Subordinate Legislation which is framing the regulatory laws under the CAA has requested both the houses to grant a fresh extension of time up to January 9, 2022.
The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 was notified on December 12, 2019.
BJP MLA and All India Matua Mahasangha President Subrata Thakur, who is also the elder brother of the union Santanu Thakur, said, “It is true that the repeated delay in implementation of the act has created hopelessness due to repeated delay in implementation of the Act. This is quite disappointing to us. But we have no option but to make them understand about the trouble in executing the task”.
“Implementation of the Act by framing laws is no small task since the Covid19 has spoiled many working days. It is true the delay has put many people in despair and they also called us for clarification as it has created a fresh fear of uncertainty among them on the issue. But we urged them to have patience”, Subrata Thakur said.
AIMMS’s Nadia South unit chief and BJP MLA from Ranaghat (south) Mukutmani Adhikari also claimed having no ‘option’ but to wait.
“We are watching every development. We are waiting with a watchful eye and continue to do so until our goal is achieved. We have to wait with patience…at least there is no option before us right now”, Adhikari told The NfN.
AIMMS insiders at Thakurnagar claimed the decision to wait has been taken only after an assurance communicated by the top brass of the BJP government on the much-coveted citizenship demand.
“We all want unconditional citizenship. Both Narendra Modi and Amit Shah have also assured this time and again. We are optimistic that they will implement it well ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha poll. We are now convincing people to have patience …., Adhikari added.
However, the AIMMS leadership in Thakurnagar indicated that it would soon take up the matter again with Narendra Modi and Amit Shah to appraise them about the concern of the community caused due to fresh extension of time sought by the government.
Speaking to The NfN Subrata Thakur said, “We will soon talk to the Prime Minister and Home Minister about the repeated delay and make a fresh appeal before them to expedite the job of framing laws. At the same time, we will explain the government’s position before our community members
However, the organization is in no mood to resume its movement, which a section of it has been demanding since the conclusion of the assembly polls.
“The objective of our movement was to get citizenship. We have achieved partial success as the centre in principle assured it. Now it has sought time for implementation. It is true that the government has been making inordinate delays. Nevertheless, we will wait for few more months. At present, there is no need to resume the movement despite the fear of uncertainty in a section of our community”.
The Matua, a lower caste Hindu community that voted for BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha poll continued its leanings towards the saffron party as it won 14 seats in Nadia and North 24 Parganas, apart from 4 seats in north Bengal.
The results of the assembly poll indicate that the community largely voted in favor of the BJP reposing its faith in the party apparently convinced over its citizenship promise