Kolkata, March 2 (NationPress) Union Home Minister Amit Shah affirmed on Monday that no Hindu refugee currently residing in West Bengal due to religious persecution from a neighboring nation will face deportation.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government is firmly in control at the national level. No Hindu refugee will lose their Indian citizenship or face deportation,” the Home Minister stated during a gathering at Raidighi in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, coinciding with the BJP's ongoing 'Parivartan Yatra' in the state that commenced on Sunday.

Political analysts suggest that this reassurance from the Home Minister is particularly significant given the concerns within the Matua community regarding potential removal of a large number of their voters from the electoral list, due to their documents being referred for judicial review by Election Commission-appointed officers.

The Matuas, who are from a socially backward Hindu class, have sought refuge in West Bengal from Bangladesh and have settled mainly in the North 24 Parganas and Nadia districts. They have emerged as a crucial voting bloc for the BJP since the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

At the same time, HM Shah emphasized that while the rights of Hindu refugees will be safeguarded, illegal infiltrators from neighboring countries will be dealt with rigorously.

“We will identify infiltrators and take necessary legal measures to expel them from the state,” he clarified.

During his address, HM Shah also unveiled a plan for a special fund of Rs 5,700 crore aimed at empowering women in West Bengal, contingent on the BJP winning the upcoming Assembly elections.

“We will implement special initiatives to uphold the dignity, safety, and economic empowerment of mothers and sisters in Bengal,” he assured.

He also addressed concerns raised by West Bengal government employees regarding the disparity in dearness allowance compared to their central government counterparts, promising that a new pay structure in line with the 7th Pay Commission would be established.

Additionally, he mentioned that if the BJP comes to power in West Bengal, the process to fill vacant government positions would commence by the end of the current year.

Moreover, he pledged to initiate stringent legal actions against corruption during the 16 years of Trinamool Congress governance in the state.

“We will eradicate the influence of external mafias in Bengal, reinforcing law and order. Stringent actions will be taken against criminal factions benefitting from political support. Individuals and families involved in serious crimes and corruption will be held accountable under the law,” the Home Minister stated.