The Matua community in Bengal breathed a sigh of relief on Wednesday following the Centre’s ‘Immigration and Foreigners Exemption order 2025’ as members of their community, especially Hindus, who entered the country before December 31, 2024 can now apply for Indian citizenship under CAA, a move which is likely to change the political equations ahead of the 2026 assembly polls.
The ministry of home affairs has issued the order which allows minorities from Afghanistan, Bangladesh & Pakistan – Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi & Christian – who entered India on/before December 31, 2024 due to religious persecution, to stay in India even without valid documents.
The order will offer a major relief to Matuas and refugees, particularly Hindus who migrated to India after 2014 and had been uncertain about their future as CAA had restricted eligibility for citizenship only to those who arrived in India on or before December 31, 2014.
According to the order, exemption will be provided to “a person belonging to a minority community in Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan, namely, Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian, who were compelled to seek shelter in India due to religious persecution or fear of religious persecution and entered into India on or before the 31 December, 2024-(i) without valid documents including passport or other travel documents; or (ii) with valid documents including passport or other travel documents and the validity of such documents have expired.”
“A Union minister brazenly spreading fake news. The cut-off date under CAA remains 2014. Only an amendment brought in Parliament can change that and not Amit Shah,” Trinamool MP Saket Gokhale posted on X.
“The extension of the cut-off date was a long demand. Considering the situation in Bangladesh from 2014 to 2024, there have been many instances of violence on Hindus. In August 2024, we have seen how former Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina was ousted and had to leave the country due to unrest and protests. Persecution of the Hindu community and Matuas have increased in Bangladesh over the last few years,” All India Matua Mahasangha general secretary Mahitosh Baidya told ET.
