Who are Matuas? West Bengal’s community hailed CAA implementation as ‘second independence day’

New Delhi: Some sections of the Matua community at Thakurnagar in North 24 Parganas of West Bengal celebrated the implementation of CAA by blowing drums and traditional musical instruments.

They hailed the moment as a defining one for them, expressing joy at finally being granted citizenship. They referred to it as their "second independence day".

Matuas, originally from East Pakistan, are a weaker section of Hindus who migrated to India during the Partition and after the creation of Bangladesh.

The community, with an estimated population of three million in the state, can tilt the scales in favour of a political party in more than 40 assembly seats in Nadia, and North and South 24 Parganas districts bordering Bangladesh. While in the Lok Sabha elections, their vote will be considered decisive in at least seven parliamentary seats in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on Monday notified the implementation of the Citizenship Amendment Act — ensuring citizenship for undocumented Hindus, Sikhs, Buddhists, and Parsis from Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Bangladesh.

The CAA rules aim to confer Indian citizenship to persecuted non-Muslim migrants - including Hindus, Sikhs, Jains, Buddhists, Parsis, and Christians - from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Afghanistan, who arrived in India before December 31, 2014.