12 Refugee Families in West Bengal Granted Citizenship Under CAA
Bangladeshi Hindu families say the move ends decades of uncertainty, even as critics raise concerns about exclusion under the law.
Twelve Hindu refugee families from Bangladesh living in West Bengal have received Indian citizenship under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), marking what many of them describe as a turning point in their lives. After spending years without official documents, stable employment, or a sense of security, the families say the new status finally gives them a place in the country they have long considered home.
Several beneficiaries said they had been living in India for decades but continued to feel “stateless.” Receiving the citizenship certificates, they said, brings relief and new opportunities. “We can now vote, work, send our children to school and live without fear,” one recipient said.
However, the development has reignited debate around the CAA. Muslim groups, civil-rights activists and opposition leaders argue that while granting citizenship to persecuted communities is important, the law’s exclusion of Muslims from its fast-track provisions raises serious concerns. They warn that it creates unequal categories of refugees and undermines the constitutional promise of equality.
Human-rights organisations have also pointed out that several other persecuted groups do not qualify under the CAA’s religious criteria, which they say makes the law unnecessarily narrow. “The CAA discriminates against Muslims, violates equality before law, and institutionalises prejudice,” a civil-society representative said, echoing long-standing criticism highlighted in national debates.
For the 12 families who have now received citizenship, the moment is deeply emotional and symbolic. But across the country, discussions about the broader impact of the CAA remain unresolved, reflecting contrasting hopes and anxieties in a diverse society.
