It has nothing to do with the RSS and its Hindutva politics.
The well known 'Muslim appeasement' has many features in West Bengal - now a Mamata Banerjee-ruled state and onetime communist bastion.
Dinhata assembly segment in North Bengal falls under politically sensitive Coochbehar region. In 1951 and 1957 elections, the seat was won by the Congress. Later it was snatched by Forward Bloc -- a key constituent of the erstwhile Left Front government. For long it was represented by noted communist Kamal Guha. He also served as Agriculture Minister under Jyoti Basu.
However, locals in Dinhata say Guha was also a pragmatic politician. At one time under patronage of Congress leaders it seems the vast local ground opposite municipal office complex had become a 'prayer ground' for Muslims. The matter was flagged off before Kamal Guha. He got the pulse of the situation that the majority Hindu community did not appreciate this.
So as the local representative Kamal Guha had to intervene. However, 'intervention' in such matters especially related to Muslims was easier said than done even for a leader like Kamal Guha. As a pragmatic leader he suggested that the play ground should be used for other 'secular' (political) and Hindu religious purposes too.
Hence the idea was mooted that a Sangh (0r a club) be set up which would be secular in characteristic. And at later stage, it was agreed that the new club be named Nam Nei Sangh (the nameless Sangh).
And thus the 'secular' character of the playground has been retained and these days - even Dura Puja is held.
Now, from the historical perspective -- Dinhata is also famous for the historical Gosanimari -- which was the capital of Kamata and Khen dynasties.
In Dinhata town, the Muslim population is estimated to be around 31.6% of the total population, based on the number of Muslim voters.
The total population of Dinhata town is 36,124, according to the 2011 Census.
While the exact percentage of Muslims in the overall population is not explicitly stated in the search results, it can be inferred that the Muslim population is significant, given the voter data.
Approximately 90,997 voters in Dinhata are Muslim, representing about 31.6% of the total voters.
The total population of Dinhata town in 2011 was 36,124 and but now it has estimated to be over 40,000.
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| Leftist legendary - Kamal Guha |
There is a Dinhata-Rangamati road but it is likely referred to two distinct locations: one in India and the other in Bangladesh.
There is no direct road connection between Dinhata in India and the Rangamati district in Bangladesh.
Locals say there is "evidence" of Bangladeshi Muslim migration into the Dinhata and Coochbehar areas of West Bengal particularly in connection with the enclave exchange.
While some individuals from Indian enclaves within Bangladesh opted to move to India during the exchange, others chose to remain. This migration, along with concerns about undocumented Bangladeshi migrants, has led to discussions about border control and the rights of individuals caught between the two countries.
In 2015, India and Bangladesh finalized an agreement to exchange enclaves (territories belonging to one country within the other).
A small number of people from the Indian enclaves within Bangladesh opted to move to India, with some settling in Dinhata, Cooch Behar.
There have been reports of "pushbacks" of undocumented Bangladeshi migrants across the border, including individuals from West Bengal.
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