Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Monday declared that the process of granting citizenship under the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) to genuine refugees fleeing religious persecution in neighbouring countries — including those arriving in West Bengal — will be concluded shortly. Shah made the announcement at a convention in Kolkata marking the 125th birth anniversary of Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Shyama Prasad Mukherjee.

Shah's CAA Assurance

Addressing the gathering, Shah assured that citizenship would be extended to all eligible refugees facing religious oppression in neighbouring countries. He framed the CAA as a fulfilment of the legacy of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, noting that it was the party founded by Mukherjee — now the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) — that had promulgated the law to protect Hindu and other minority refugees. He added that those involved in corruption should be prepared to face accountability.

Historical Context: The Liaquat-Nehru Pact

Shah invoked the Liaquat-Nehru Pact, signed on 8 April 1950 between Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Pakistani Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan, as a point of historical contrast. According to Shah, while the pact was intended to guarantee minority rights in both India and Pakistan, it failed in practice to protect minority Hindus in Pakistan and East Pakistan — which later became Bangladesh. He argued that Mukherjee had studied the pact and identified this asymmetry, recognising that the safety of Hindus in those territories was not adequately addressed even as the agreement prioritised the interests of Muslims in India.

West Bengal Government and UCC

Shah also praised West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari for his performance in the first two months as the state's administrative head. According to Shah, Adhikari had delivered on his pre-election promise of firm action against anti-social and corrupt elements in the state. Shah further indicated that the pre-election commitment to implement the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) in West Bengal is progressing toward fulfilment.

PM Modi's Virtual Address

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also addressed the convention virtually, describing Shyama Prasad Mukherjee's life as the seed of a mass movement and a philosophical current in Indian public life. Modi noted that when the Bharatiya Jana Sangh was established, the Indian National Congress (Congress) was overwhelmingly dominant nationally, leaving little space for alternative ideologies. He said Mukherjee built the organisation by confronting that adversity head-on.

What Comes Next

Shah did not specify a timeline for completing the CAA citizenship process, but his assurance signals that the Centre intends to accelerate pending applications. The CAA, enacted in December 2019, has faced sustained legal and political challenges; its implementing rules were notified only in March 2024. With West Bengal now under BJP leadership, the state is expected to play a central role in the rollout. All eyes will be on how quickly the administrative machinery processes applications and whether a formal deadline is announced.