Abhishek slams BJP netas for ‘exploiting, betraying’ Matuas
Times of India | 10 January 2026
Taherpur (Nadia)/Thakurnagar (North 24 Parganas): Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Friday slammed BJP for "politically exploiting Matuas" and said "those who betrayed them must answer".
Banerjee spoke in Taherpur at the same ground where PM Narendra Modi was scheduled to speak a fortnight back — which was called off due to inclement weather — and paid obeisance to Matua icons Harichand and Guruchand Thakur at the Thakurbari temple.
Speaking to reporters, Banerjee said: "Those who won elections by seeking the support of Matuas and are now abandoning them, never stood by the people. Their representatives are talking about removing 1 lakh names but no one from our side said this. The Matuas made them winners with great hope, only to hear this now."
Earlier, in Taherpur, Banerjee also spoke extensively on the Matua issue. "Are we illegal? Only Narendra Modi is legal? Are Matua brothers illegal? Then, is Shantanu Thakur legal? Matuas are illegal but Amit Shah is legal? Did they ever enquire about Boroma when she was alive? You visited only once to click photographs. Did you ever ask if Boroma faced any problems? Did you ever enquire whether she was healthy?" Banerjee asked. Matuas were told they were "illegal by the very people whose votes elected BJP MPs and MLAs", the TMC neta said.
"BJP MP and minister Shantanu Thakur stated that if 1 lakh names are struck off, it is not an issue. A BJP MLA stated that if 5 lakh names are struck off, it is not an issue. With whose votes did you become MPs and MLAs? Some became central ministers, and one became the PM. Don't you feel ashamed? They are insulting people without any cause. Ten years ago, in the name of demonetisation in 2016, we stood in long queues. Did black money stop? Now again, in the name of SIR, 10 crore people were made to stand in long queues," he said.
Banerjee added: "We must raise our voices. Either give us unconditional citizenship or PM Narendra Modi must resign. Either give unconditional citizenship or Amit Shah must leave his chair. Either provide unconditional citizenship or Shantanu Thakur must resign."
Attacking the SIR process, Banerjee also showed several people who were declared dead in the SIR list.
"Look at these three people. The Election Commission declared them dead voters. They are standing beside me. Maybe my eyes are weak — I got an eye surgery. But Narendra Modi, Amit Shah and Gyanesh Kumar could not see them. They were made invisible. Can you see them? Those who want to make us vanish must themselves vanish after the ballots are opened. From every booth, we must answer BJP so that for the next 50 years they think before declaring war against Bengal," Banerjee said in Taherpur.