PM Modi assures persecuted Hindus from Bangladesh of Indian citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act, targets illegal infiltration in West Bengal, and promises protection, voter rights, and long-term development for refugee and Matua communities.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday assured persecuted religious minorities from Bangladesh, particularly Hindus, that India will grant them citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), urging them not to live in fear or uncertainty. Addressing a massive public rally in Malda district of West Bengal, the Prime Minister said the Union government remains firmly committed to protecting the rights, dignity, and future of people who have fled religious persecution in neighboring countries.
Speaking directly to refugees and minority communities who have migrated due to religious oppression, PM Modi said, “People coming to West Bengal from the neighboring country because of religious persecution should not be afraid. It is my guarantee that their interests will be protected and citizenship will be granted to them under the Citizenship Amendment Act.”
The Prime Minister emphasized that the CAA was enacted to provide justice to minorities who faced systematic discrimination and violence in neighboring nations and had no other place to seek shelter. He reiterated that India has always been a natural home for those facing persecution and that the law reflects the country’s humanitarian values.
Highlighting the socio-economic upliftment of marginalized communities, PM Modi said that if a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government comes to power in West Bengal, it would prioritize the development of the Matua community along with other backward and underprivileged groups. He stressed that inclusive growth, access to welfare schemes, education, and employment opportunities would be key focus areas.
Launching a sharp attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), the Prime Minister accused the state government of encouraging illegal infiltration from Bangladesh for political gains. He alleged that such practices have harmed the interests of the poor and weakened the democratic fabric of the state.
“The biggest challenge faced by West Bengal today is infiltration,” PM Modi said. “Even the world’s richest countries are taking strict steps to expel infiltrators. Should infiltrators not be sent out of West Bengal as well?” he asked, questioning the TMC’s stance on the issue.
The Prime Minister alleged that successive TMC governments have deliberately ignored infiltration to create vote banks, thereby depriving genuine citizens of their rightful opportunities. “They snatch away the rights of the poor, they snatch away the jobs of the youth, and they have oppressed our sisters,” he said, adding that unchecked infiltration has also contributed to rising crime, violence, and insecurity.
PM Modi further warned that illegal infiltration poses serious risks to national security. He claimed that terrorism, violence, and demographic imbalance are increasing in several regions of West Bengal, including Malda and Murshidabad. According to him, these developments threaten social harmony and long-term stability.
“The demographic balance is being destroyed, and violence is increasing in many places,” the Prime Minister said. “The unholy alliance between infiltrators and those in power must be broken.” He asserted that a BJP government would take decisive and strong action to curb illegal infiltration and ensure law and order.
Responding to claims made by the Trinamool Congress that many voters from the Matua community could lose their voting rights due to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise, PM Modi dismissed the allegations as politically motivated misinformation. He underlined that the BJP is fully committed to protecting the voting rights of Matuas and other religious refugees.
“The BJP not only wants to protect your voting rights but also wants to ensure your long-term development and dignity,” he said, accusing the TMC of spreading fear to mislead voters. He reiterated that the SIR process aims to strengthen democracy by ensuring transparency and accuracy in electoral rolls.
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The Prime Minister concluded his address by calling upon the people of West Bengal to support a development-oriented and corruption-free governance model. He said the BJP stands for security, citizenship rights, social justice, and inclusive growth, contrasting it with what he described as appeasement politics and administrative failure under the current state government.
PM Modi’s remarks come amid intense political campaigning in West Bengal, where issues such as citizenship, infiltration, voter rights, and minority welfare remain central to public discourse. His assurance under the CAA is expected to resonate strongly among refugee communities who have long sought legal recognition and stability in India.
