Matua community announces Harinam paath with one lakh voices at Brigade ground

After the recent Gita recitation event at Kolkata's Brigade ground, the All India Matua Mahasangh's Gosai Parishad, led by president Nantu Halder and backed by Trinamool MP Mamata Bala Thakur, has announced plans to hold a massive Harinam Sankirtan ceremony at the same Brigade ground in January.

Nantu Halder confirmed the non-political nature of the planned event, stating that the Harinam Sankirtan will feature one lakh voices. He distanced the Matuas from the recent religious programs, arguing, "Everyone is doing it with political motives. Some are organizing Gita readings, some are organizing Quran readings. But the Matuas are completely apolitical." 

The ceremony's underlying agenda is to leverage the public gathering to address crucial community issues. After the Harinam, Nantu Halder said they plan to request the Election Commission to ensure the inclusion of Matua names in the voter list, expressing concern over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) drive.

Crucially, the Mahasangh will also protest the fact that the Matuas have not yet received citizenship despite filling up the CAA forms, revealing the community's frustration, which is causing increasing discomfort within the BJP. Responding to the Matua's CAA anger, BJP leader Priyangu Pandey said the Matuas have misunderstood the CAA and asserted that all Hindus would get citizenship, adding that the BJP would attend the Harinam event if invited.