CAA Grants Indian Citizenship: Brings Joy and Security to Persecuted Bangladeshi Migrants

News Mania desk/Agnibeena Ghosh/31st May 2024

Debiprasad Gain, a 37-year-old resident of India for the past two decades, has finally achieved Indian citizenship. He is one of eight individuals in West Bengal who recently received citizenship documents under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA). Gain, who fled Bangladesh’s Khulna region to escape persecution, expressed immense relief and happiness upon receiving his citizenship papers.

Gain shared his experience with a news agency, describing the moment as a restoration of his identity. “The day we crossed the border after being tortured in Bangladesh, we felt some sense of comfort. But the uncertainty remained. Today, when I got the citizenship card in the mail, I was very happy. I have got my identity back,” he said. Despite possessing a voter ID and Aadhaar card, Gain faced significant challenges at passport and immigration offices due to his lack of official citizenship.

“We had to face humiliation in the passport office. One section of people also extorted us in various ways. Now, I am happy that future generations of my family will be secured. I want to thank Modi ji and Amit Shah ji,” Gain remarked. His application for citizenship was processed swiftly, taking just 15 days from submission to approval. Gain provided his Aadhaar and voter ID details, along with proof of his Hindu faith from the Ramakrishna Mission.

Gain’s joy is palpable as he encourages others in similar situations to apply for citizenship, reassuring them that the process is straightforward and accessible. On the same day Gain received his documents, seven other individuals from North 24 Parganas and one from Nadia also obtained their citizenship cards.

This development comes amidst the ongoing Lok Sabha elections, with several constituencies in West Bengal preparing for the final phase of voting. State BJP chief Sukanto Majumdar commented on the timing, emphasizing the significance of the CAA. “No matter how much Mamata Banerjee says that she will not implement CAA, people of Bengal have started getting certificates. Thanks to Modi ji and Amit Shah ji for that.”

The CAA, enacted in December 2019, aims to grant Indian nationality to persecuted Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist, Parsi, and Christian migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014. Despite its passage, the rules for granting citizenship under the CAA were only issued in March this year, following a prolonged delay.

The recent issuance of citizenship certificates represents the first significant implementation of the CAA since the notification of the Citizenship (Amendment) Rules, 2024. The Union Home Ministry facilitated the citizenship grants through State Empowered Committees in West Bengal, Haryana, and Uttarakhand.

This milestone in Gain’s life not only marks a personal victory but also highlights the broader implications of the CAA. It underscores the government’s commitment to providing security and recognition to those who have endured persecution and uncertainty. As the political landscape in West Bengal evolves, the impact of such policies will continue to shape the region’s future.