According to the Central Government's guidelines, district magistrates will also hold hearings to obtain certificates under the Citizenship Amendment Act. As a result, the entire process has become much easier. Giving citizenship to Hindu refugees, especially Matuas, through the CAA was one of the main election promises of the BJP. As a result of this directive from the Centre, the path to fulfilling that promise has also been largely unhindered. The Chief Minister has repeatedly claimed that the promises made by the BJP regarding the CAA will be fulfilled. Union Home Minister Amit Shah also said the same thing when he came to the state. On this day, the Chief Minister, showing the Government of India's Gazette notification in Nabanna, said, I will thank Union Home Minister Amit Shahji that he has given the West Bengal government the right to a hearing and a certificate under the CAA through the Government of India's Gazette. Out of 2 lakh 30 thousand, 23 thousand applicants have received these certificates, the remaining 2 lakh 7 thousand are pending. Apart from this, if those who have not yet applied also apply, we will be able to quickly complete the hearing through the District Magistrates and issue certificates to Hindu refugees. Now you will understand from me. Especially the Matuas have been hoping for a long time that they will get citizenship quickly after we are put in power.
What is said in the Central guidelines?
The District Magistrates of 6 bordering states including West Bengal have been given the right to settle citizenship. The Center has taken important steps to reduce the delay in the process of granting citizenship to people of Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist and Parsi communities coming from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh. The Ministry of Home Affairs has issued the Citizenship (Third Amendment) Rules, 2026, amending the Citizenship Rules, 2009. As per the new rules, the concerned District Magistrates have been empowered to grant citizenship to "fit and eligible" applicants ordinarily residing in Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat, West Bengal, Assam and Tripura (excluding tribal areas) and the Union Territories of Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh.
Under this power, the concerned District Magistrates can receive, scrutinise and dispose of applications for citizenship under Section 6B of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Under this section, people belonging to Hindu, Sikh, Jain, Buddhist and Parsi communities from Pakistan, Afghanistan and Bangladesh can apply for Indian citizenship subject to certain conditions.