BJP plans over 1,000 CAA camps across West Bengal, to focus on Bangladesh-bordering districts ahead of SIR and polls

Speaking to The Indian Express, state BJP president and MP Samik Bhattacharya said, “This was an agenda for the BJP from day one. There was a slight delay in framing the rules due to the Covid pandemic, but we are ready.”

He added that there will be over 1,000 camps across the state, with more in border areas “where the demography has already changed”. “We are seeing the demography in several districts changing, mainly in border areas; thus, there will be more camps there,” he said.

Party insiders said the BJP’s main focus will be on Bangladesh-bordering districts, including North 24 Parganas and Nadia in South Bengal, and Cooch Behar and Uttar Dinajpur in North Bengal.

According to a senior party leader, apart from BJP units, other Hindu organisations and several local clubs will also participate in the drive. On Wednesday, a workshop was held by the Bengal BJP, led by party general secretary (Organisation) B L Santosh to train party workers, leaders, and representatives of “apolitical” organisations on the CAA.

Sources said the trainees will return to their localities and assist others in applying for citizenship certificates before the SIR process takes place.

A senior BJP leader said, “It is important to make the common man understand why CAA is needed. A lot of misinformation has been spread about it, which is why people are scared.”

With the Election Commission expected to announce the SIR soon, the party views the CAA camps as crucial for enabling persecuted non-Muslim refugees who entered India after 2002 to secure citizenship certificates.

“The workshop was attended by senior leaders and workers as the party feels they themselves need to be clear about the CAA and the questions they may face. If they are not convinced, they cannot convince others to apply,” said a senior BJP functionary.

He added, “A major problem is that people are afraid to apply for citizenship status as they fear they will be sent to detention camps or branded as infiltrators. The main goal for us is to convince and educate them.”

Speaking to The Indian Express, BJP MLA and state refugee cell convenor Asim Sarkar said, “From 2000 to December 31, 2024, those whose names are not there, we will convince them to apply for citizenship certificates. Our state’s CM has misled persecuted Hindu refugees not to apply under CAA. CAA is for the Hindus. It is a Laxman Rekha. This fight for citizenship of persecuted Hindus started in Thakurnagar in 2004 from the Matua household. We have protested outside Bengal in 18 states for the refugees.”

Sarkar said that in his Haringhata constituency, they will begin campaigning to urge people to apply under the CAA. “We will be arranging mics for announcements for all to apply as soon as possible,” he added.

According to BJP sources, this statewide campaign will help the party consolidate Hindu votes and reach out to Matua and other Hindu refugee communities who arrived in Bengal till 2024 due to religious persecution in Bangladesh. Party leaders claim that the CAA and SIR processes will help identify fake and deceased voters, as well as “illegal” Muslim immigrants staying in Bengal.