West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday, 24 August announced that hearings of citizenship applications filed under the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA), 2019, will be concluded shortly. Speaking at a press conference at the state secretariat Nabanna in Kolkata, Adhikari said the state has already issued citizenship certificates to 23,000 people out of a total 2.30 lakh applicants.

Key Developments on CAA Processing

Addressing reporters, Adhikari said, 'We will complete hearings for the CAA soon. All eligible refugees, including new applicants, in addition to the 2,07,000 applications currently pending, will be given official certificates of Indian citizenship after completing the hearings quickly.' He added that necessary directives had already been sent to district magistrates across the state to expedite the process.

New Anti-Social Activities Law Comes Into Force

Adhikari also announced that Governor R.N. Ravi has given his assent to the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, which was recently passed by the state Assembly. A notification was issued on the same day, bringing part of the act into immediate effect.

Under the new law, individuals who attack police personnel or damage public property will face swift legal action. 'No one will be given a discount if government property is destroyed. Three times the compensation will be collected for the destruction of government property, that too with interest. Quick action will be taken if there is an attack on the police,' Adhikari said.

Annapurna Yojana Row: Adhikari Counters Banerjee

The Chief Minister also pushed back against allegations made by former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who claimed on Monday afternoon — in a live social media address — that women were being denied the Annapurna Yojana allowance despite pre-election promises to double it. Banerjee alleged that conditions and complications were being imposed to deprive beneficiaries.

Adhikari dismissed the claims, stating that the state government had already transferred financial assistance directly to the bank accounts of more than 1.46 crore eligible women. He asserted the disbursement was made without political or religious discrimination, noting that approximately 19 lakh Muslim families had received funds under the scheme.

Scrutiny of Eligible and Ineligible Beneficiaries

On the question of beneficiary eligibility, Adhikari said scrutiny was being conducted strictly as per government rules. He noted that around 4.5 lakh women had filed complaints regarding their applications, and each case was being investigated carefully with action taken accordingly. He criticised the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, arguing that allegations of discrimination did not sit well with those who had, in his words, 'deceived people for political reasons.'

With CAA hearings set to accelerate and a new public safety law now partially in force, West Bengal's political landscape is entering a sharply contested phase ahead of upcoming legislative battles.