Former MP and president of the Trinamul-backed Sarbabharatiya Matua Mahasangha, Mamatabala Thakur, on Monday launched a movement at Thakurnagar in North 24-Parganas, demanding unconditional citizenship rights for the Matuas, categorically rejecting the Citizenship Amendment Act that they felt would rob them of the rights to stay in India.

Mamatabala’s movement comes in the backdrop of BJP MP and chief of the All India Matua Mahasangha, Santanu Thakur, voicing discontent over the Centre’s delay in implementing the CAA and his claim that rules under the new act did not go down well with the Matuas.

BJP state chief Dilip Ghosh met Santanu here on Monday and ruled out the latter leaving the party.

Matuas are a group of Hindu refugees from Bangladesh.