Matua community to receive citizenship rights through CAA: Arjun Ram Meghwal

Union minister Arjun Ram Meghwal said on Monday that the Matua community will definitely receive citizenship rights through the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Meghwal was in Bengal to attend the 36th annual convention of Matuas in Bongaon, known to be a religio-social congregation.

“I have spoken to the Matua community across the country and your (Matuas) problems about citizenship will be resolved. The process has already started and it will be resolved. The central government has a clear vision. There may be some delay due to technical issues but it will be implemented,” Meghwal told the community while addressing Matuas at their holy place of Matua Mahasangh Thakurbari in Bongaon on Monday.

“Citizenship related issues of those from the Matua community will be resolved. If there are document-related problems, it will be resolved. The intention of the Centre is clear,” Meghwal added.


Meanwhile, MoS for Shipping, Shantanu Thakur, claimed that the CAA is “a Constitutional issue and part of our sovereignty” and if the central government implements it, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will have to accept it. Banerjee had recently reiterated that she would not allow CAA to be implemented in Bengal. Shantanu Thakur is also chief (Sanghadhipati) of the Matua Mahasangh.

“The Matua sect members are followers of Harichand Thakur. Thakurbari is a holy place for them. The annual convention will be held on this day every year and it is not connected with CAA. The Matuas’ relationship with Thakurbari and Harichand Thakur is not connected with CAA. Political parties try to project the issue and connect it with CAA,” Thakur said, adding “CAA is a social issue. CAA has already been implemented in two districts of Gujarat.”

CAA has been a long-standing demand of the Matua community in the state.