Matua Mahasangha to Intensify Protest Over CAA-Linked Voting Rights

MP, Kolkata, 11 December 2025 : A day after the Supreme Court ruled that religious minorities from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh who fled persecution under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) would need to undergo an enquiry before being granted voting rights, the All India Matua Mahasangha has announced plans to intensify their protest. The Mahasangha, which represents the Matua community, has vowed to hold protest rallies demanding the right to vote in West Bengal.

Earlier, members of the Mahasangha had staged a demonstration outside the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) in Kolkata, urging that their names not be excluded from the electoral rolls during the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) exercise.

According to the organisation, the Supreme Court’s recent observation has angered the Matua community, and they have pledged to continue their protests, particularly in Bongaon, until their concerns are addressed. A spokesperson for the Mahasangha stated, "We are not against the SIR process. We want unauthorised citizens who have fraudulently obtained cards to be detected and removed, irrespective of religion. But that is not happening in reality."

The spokesperson alleged that members of the Matua community—who have voted in multiple elections and have lived in India for decades, having obtained all the necessary documents—are being unfairly targeted in the name of the SIR exercise.

The Mahasangha also claimed that Rajbangshi, tribal, and indigenous communities are facing similar threats. They accused the Election Commission and the BJP-led central government of being unresponsive to their concerns. The Mahasangha, which is an apolitical body consisting of members from various political parties and ordinary citizens, has urged all political parties to support their cause.

“We have always been treated as a vote bank by political parties, both at the state and national levels. If our concerns are not addressed, we will intensify our protests in the coming days,” the spokesperson warned.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled that conferring the rights associated with Indian citizenship on people claiming to be persecuted religious minorities under the CAA would depend entirely on whether their claims are verified through an enquiry. The court emphasized that while the 2019 Act enables these individuals to seek “enforceable rights,” each claim must be thoroughly examined by the authorities.