Do Documents Disprove CM Banerjee’s Allegations Against Assam Government Regarding Koch-Rajbongshi Voters?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Documents from the Assam government refute claims of harassment against Koch-Rajbongshi voters.
- The Assam Governor's order exempts certain communities from the three-generation domicile requirement.
- All pending cases against Koch-Rajbongshi individuals have been withdrawn by the Assam government.
- Political tensions rise as West Bengal approaches crucial elections.
- The implications of these documents could alter voter sentiment.
Kolkata, July 9 (NationPress) Recent documents from the Assam government contradict the assertions made by West Bengal’s Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who claimed that Foreign Tribunals in Assam were targeting a Koch-Rajbongshi voter from Bengal’s Cooch Behar district, labeling him as an illegal infiltrator.
Following her allegations made on Tuesday via her official X account, two official documents emerged from the Assam government that negate any notion of harassment against Koch-Rajbongshi voters.
In her statement, CM Banerjee further accused the ruling BJP government in Assam of trying to enforce the NRC in West Bengal.
The first document is an order from the Assam Governor’s office dated February 4, 2025, which explicitly states that “the requirement of (3) three-generation domicile in Assam shall not apply for applicants from Koch-Rajbongshi, Moran, Matak, Chulia, and Ahom communities in Assam for consideration as Indigenous applicants for land settlement….”
The second document, dated April 11, 2025, originates from the Assam Government’s Home Department and notifies all assistant government pleaders in Foreigners’ Tribunals in Assam that cases pending against members of the Koch-Rajbongshi community have been withdrawn.
This order instructed all assistant government pleaders to expedite the withdrawal of such cases against any individual from the Koch-Rajbongshi community.
BJP General Secretary in West Bengal, Jagannath Chattopadhyay, remarked that the unfounded allegations of harassment against the Koch-Rajbongshi community illustrate Mamata Banerjee’s fears.
“With the Assam government clarifying its position through official notifications, the Chief Minister’s claims are unfounded. The Trinamool Congress is gripped by the fear of defeat,” Chattopadhyay stated.
Previously, the Chief Minister expressed concerns about the new electoral roll revision guidelines issued by the Election Commission of India (ECI) ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections in Bihar. She suggested these guidelines could be a precursor to NRC implementation.
She also alleged that these new guidelines, although introduced before the Bihar Assembly elections, primarily target West Bengal, which is poised for significant Assembly elections next year.
In response to the Chief Minister’s remarks, the Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, suggested that the Chief Minister has recognized that a significant number of illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators, including those of Rohingya descent, who had been part of her support base, will soon be removed, prompting her attack on the election panel regarding the new guidelines.