Suvendu Adhikari promises swift CAA citizenship for ‘Hindu refugees’ from Bangladesh

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has promised to fast-track citizenship for “Hindu refugees” from Bangladesh, saying pending applications will be processed swiftly.

The state has received 230,000 applications from people who moved there from neighbouring countries. Of them, 23,000 have already received citizenship certificates, he said.

According to a report published by The Telegraph Online, Adhikari spoke about the issue at a media briefing at Nabanna, the state administrative headquarters, on Tuesday.

Those who have yet to apply under India’s Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) can still do so, he said.

“Citizenship hearings under the CAA will be completed swiftly through district magistrates, and certificates will be issued promptly.

“Among the 230,000 applications, 23,000 applicants have received citizenship certificates. A further 207,000 applications remain pending.”

“We will issue certificates to Hindu refugees who came from Bangladesh because of religious persecution,” the chief minister added.

Reassuring the Matua community and other Hindu refugees awaiting CAA certificates, he said: “They will receive these certificates directly from me. The government has entrusted me with this responsibility.”

India’s Parliament passed the controversial CAA on Mar 11, 2024. It provides a citizenship pathway for Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, Parsis and Christians who entered India before Dec 31, 2014, after facing “religious persecution” in Pakistan, Bangladesh or Afghanistan.

In August 2026, India’s home ministry granted the West Bengal government administrative powers under the CAA to process applications and issue citizenship certificates.

Adhikari had earlier said on Aug 1 that all pending CAA applications in the state would be resolved within six months.