Don’t apply under CAA till new govt’s formation: Mathua body
■ In a fix as majority arrived without docus
Kolkata, March 19: The Matua community’s initial jubilation over the implementation of the CAA has been dampened as its key organisation advised its members not to apply for citizenship under the new law for now as many of them do not have documents required to prove their previous residential address in Bangladesh.
The All India Matua Mahasangha has asked its members to apply for Indian citizenship only after the formation of a new government at the Centre.
Matuas, originally from East Pakistan, are a weaker section of Hindus who migrated to India during the Partition and after the creation of Bangladesh following religious persecution.
Rules of the CAA were notified last week.
All India Matua Mahasangha general secretary Mahitosh Baidya said a communication has been sent to all the members of the community “not to file applications for citizenship till the formation of the next government”.
The Centre has launched a portal for applying for citizenship under the CAA.
“After the rules were framed, several members of the Matua community tried to fill up online applications. But they faced problems since while filling up column 5, they have been asked to fill it with address proof or documents related to their residence in Bangladesh,” Mr Baidya said.
Mr Baidya highlighted that the Matuas face a catch-22 situation, as the majority either arrived without documents from Bangladesh or discarded them after obtaining some in India.
“They destroyed the old documents after managing voter cards and Aadhaar cards here since it is dangerous for a person to carry documents from two countries. If caught, they would be booked under the Foreigners Act,” Mr Baidya said.
◗ MATUAS, ORIGINALLY from East Pakistan, are a weaker section of Hindus who migrated to India during the Partition and after the creation of Bangladesh following religious persecution