In the 2021 West Bengal elections, BJP had witnessed a skyrocketing rise in its seat share. But things are changing for bad in 2022. The BJP is imploding in the state as their internal differences are now surfacing in the public domain.
BJP refugee cell calls out its own party
The refugee cell of West Bengal BJP has criticised its own party’s functioning for their lacklustre attitude. The cell is not happy with the slow speed of framing the rules related to the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019. Moreover, the cell is now calling for support from other parties as well.
In an official press release, the cell said, “Because of the rules not being framed, the Citizenship (Amendment) Act has not been put into effect for the past two years. Owing to this unwarranted delay, refugees are facing several legal issues, harassment by the police and difficulties at work, in education and foreign travel,”
Read more: One lakh Bengalis displaced after Mamata Banerjee’s election victory: Supreme Court asks Mamata how
January 9 was the third deadline
January 9, 2022, was the third deadline for notifying the CAA amendment bill, 2019. Moreover, the deadline was fixed after another round of extensions. The refugee cell stated that the CAA act was passed by Parliament on December 11, 2019. It criticised the Modi government for rules of CAA being unclear even after two years of passing the bill.
BREAKING: It's BJP vs BJP! With the central leadership for not notifying #CAA rules (yday was last day for that), #Bengal BJP's refugee cell put BJP govt at center, at dock. What's more? Bengal BJP sought the help of other political parties to put pressure on its own government pic.twitter.com/2RBJIrgSaS
— Anindya (@AninBanerjee) January 10, 2022
“It does not take more than a few days to frame the rules. Despite being a member of the party [BJP], I will blame the Centre for the delay. For me the interest of the refugees is paramount,” said a release by Mohit Roy, convener of the cell. Roy is an academician who has proven credentials in the study of Refugees. According to him, centre’s delay will affect more than 1 Crore refugees coming to India after the Bangladesh Liberation war of 1971.
BJP’s dwindling prospects in Bengal
After registering a steady growth in its election prospects, BJP is facing severe internal problems in West Bengal. It has often been criticised for not laying out the hand of support to party workers who worked day and night to establish the party’s base in the state.
Read more: Modi govt’s inaction in Bengal and Maharashtra are huge blows to PM Modi’s strongman image
Moreover, Matua leaders are not happy with BJP’s attitude towards CAA. Matuas are those Hindus who have come from Bangladesh and are residing in bordering areas of the state. BJP had fought the 2021 assembly election on the promise of implementing CAA in letter and spirit. This would benefit Matuas the most. The delays in implementation are now hurting BJP’s chances.
Read more: Bengali Hindus boycott Bangladeshi stalls in Cooch Behar Raas Mela, Bangladeshis incur huge losses
Unnecessary delay hurting BJP
It is tough to formulate rules regarding laws. That is why parliamentary rules provide a six-month duration for framing these rules. If this is not possible within 3 months, then Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha committees are further requested to extend the deadlines. Factually, the amount of time and resources spent in extending deadlines should better be used for framing rules.
The delay is hurting BJP’s prospects. BJP’s core vote bank is alienated Hindus of Bengal who are outcasted by Mamata Banerjee’s Muslim appeasement politics. Now, with this blunder, BJP is omitting the bond which has developed between the party and persecuted Hindus from Bangladesh.
The BJP lacks leadership in WB ke maybe they have calculated it’s not worth the effort and energy to put in WB, Mamta is too powerful to be defeated in WB. Whatever the reason, BJP must find a good local face, someone like Sonowal, Yogi without bothering about profit, loss in near term. WB must be prevented from going the Kashmir or Kerela way in future.