Suvendu Adhikari Sets December 31 Deadline to Clear Pending CAA Citizenship Applications in Bengal

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced that all eligible applications for Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) will be processed by December 31, accusing the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of failing to facilitate the implementation of the legislation.

Speaking at the inauguration of a Kali Puja pandal in Aranghata, Nadia district, on Friday, Adhikari said approximately 2.5 lakh applications were pending in Nadia and neighbouring North 24 Parganas, two border districts with significant populations of migrants from Bangladesh.

“All eligible applications under the CAA will be disposed of by December 31. No eligible applicant will be left out, and citizenship certificates will be issued within the stipulated period,” he said.

Adhikari said his government had taken responsibility for accelerating the citizenship process and clearing the accumulated backlog through administrative intervention.

He added that district magistrates had received training through the state Home Department, while sub-divisional officers (SDOs) would oversee the verification of applications and conduct hearings to ensure timely disposal.

The Citizenship (Amendment) Act, passed by Parliament in December 2019, provides a pathway to Indian citizenship for undocumented migrants belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who entered India on or before December 31, 2014, after facing religious persecution.

The Centre notified the rules under the legislation in March 2024, paving the way for its implementation more than four years after Parliament passed the Act.

The issue carries considerable political significance in Nadia and North 24 Parganas, particularly among sections of the Matua community, whose members have long sought legal recognition of their citizenship following migration from Bangladesh.

Adhikari also criticised the previous state government, alleging that it had created obstacles to religious and cultural activities, particularly by restricting permissions for Durga Puja celebrations and immersion processions.

₹1,000 Crore for Temple and Monastery Restoration

In a separate announcement, the chief minister said the state government would invest ₹1,000 crore over the next two years to renovate and restore old monasteries and temples across West Bengal.

The proposed initiative, named the ‘Tirthakshetra Circuit’, will cover religious institutions managed by trusts, debottar bodies and public organisations.

However, privately owned religious establishments will not be included in the programme, Adhikari said.

The proposed restoration initiative is aimed at preserving the state’s religious heritage and improving the condition of historic temples and monasteries.