They are a silent, invisible people. Hunted by Islamists in Bangladesh, the land of their birth, they came to India penniless seeking safety and shelter.

Here, for years they have stayed outside the national headcount, bereft of benefits, and often dignity. In TMC-ruled West Bengal, where Muslim appeasement is the default instinct of the local leadership, they have been the most vulnerable population.

Many victims of TMC goon Sheikh Shahjahan, for instance, have been their men and women. But they had no political voice to speak out.

So, when the Narendra Modi government started handing out citizenship certificates to these undocumented Bangladeshi Hindus, it is as if somebody has given them birth papers and a new life.

The special intensive revision (SIR) of........

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