Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited the Matua Thakur Mandir in Thakurnagar, West Bengal, before his election rally. He remembered meeting Matua community matriarch Binapani Devi a few years ago during his previous visit to the temple. Binapani Devi, who belonged to the Matua Mahasangha, passed away in March 2019.
In his post on social media platform X, PM Modi shared a photo from his 2019 meeting with Binapani Devi. He expressed his memories of seeking her blessings at the temple. The Matuas, part of the Scheduled Caste Namasudra community, migrated to India in significant numbers post the Partition and the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War.
During his election rally in Thakurnagar, PM Modi also reminisced about his visit to Orakandi in Bangladesh. He highlighted the importance of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019, in granting citizenship to communities like the Matuas. Modi assured the Matuas and Namasudras of citizenship, permanent residence, documentation, and equal rights as Indian citizens.
