The Akhil Bharat Hindu Mahasabha (West Bengal), a socio-political organisation led by Chandrachur Goswami (state president), has said that it has sought an appointment with West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose to take up the issue of unconditional citizenship for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains and Sikhs (among persecuted religious minorities from neighbouring countries, namely Afghanistan, Bangladesh, or Pakistan) and followers of ‘Sanatan Dharma”.
The organisation said they had emailed a representation to Raj Bhavan, seeking an immediate appointment with the governor. In the email, there is also a mention of an earlier communication it had made for an “appointment on an urgent basis”.
The Raj Bhavan sources couldn’t be reached for an updated status on the said communication. The organisation has stated that the “sword of extinction-level threat to survival” is dangerously looming over the heads of countless Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs and followers of Sanatan Dharma, who are natural citizens of Bharat Rashtra”.
With reference to the application of National Register of Citizens (NRC) and Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the organisation feels that that Bharat Rashtra is “Motherland by Right” for Hindus, Buddhists, Jains, Sikhs and followers of Sanatan Dharma and they must be accredited “unconditional citizenship” within the territorial jurisdiction of the country, irrespective of their place of birth.
In the letter, Goswami stated that his organisation has made a “clarion call to all for holistic support to nip the many anomalies and manufactured irregularities within the fabric of NRC and CAA….”.
A representative of the body told DH that “it’s beginning its campaign on the issue from Vijaya Dashami, and has already drawn support from three other organisations”. Further, the representative added that “it also has the support of sections of supporters of two other political parties”.
The organisation had attracted media glare last year, when the asura (demon) in its Durga Puja pandal, initially had a resemblance to Mahatma Gandhi; later, following public outrage, it got a new look with spectacles disappearing and a wig and black moustache getting added.
(Published 24 October 2023, 23:29 IST)