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Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Detention of Bengali migrants: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury asks President Murmu to intervene
Flagging the detention and deportation of migrant workers from West Bengal during drives against illegal Bangladeshi nationals in several states of the country, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday urged President Droupadi Murmu to intervene. In a letter to the President, the former Congress MP wrote: 'It's very sad and cruel fact that Bengali-speaking daily wage labourers, who are bonafide Indian citizens, are being targeted due to their physical appearance and accent, which is being mistaken for that of Bangladeshis. This similarity is being used as a pretext to harass, humiliate, physically assault, and hold these innocent people in detention.' Expressing concerns that 'witch-hunting of Bangladeshis' is leading to large-scale repatriation of Bengali migrant workers, Chowdhury wrote: 'I would like to reiterate that those lakhs of migrant workers who were compelled to venture into other states for their livelihoods also contribute significantly to the revenue kitty of the state government through their remittances. Now, those migrants are supposed to be rendered unemployed…' The former state Congress chief said the President should intervene by taking appropriate measures to see that 'innocent Bengali-speaking people, who are bonafide Indian nationals working as labourers in Odisha, Maharashtra and other states are not subjected to harassment, humiliation, torture and loss of livelihood'. A copy of the letter has also been sent to West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose. In recent weeks and months, several Bengali migrant workers on suspicion of being illegal Bangladeshi nationals have been detained, and some of them pushed into Bangladesh from states like Odisha, Maharashtra, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh – all BJP-ruled states.
India Gazette
4 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
"Violation of people's voting rights": Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on SIR in Bihar
ANI 12 Jul 2025, 11:30 GMT+10 Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], July 12 (ANI): Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral rolls currently underway in Bihar is a 'violation' of people's voting rights and stated the exercise has already caused 'chaos' in the poll-bound Bihar. The State will have elections later in the year. '... The intention behind conducting this SIR in Bihar will cause significant difficulties for the common people, especially those from the backwards classes. With elections approaching, they are being told to prove they are citizens of the country. Has any government in India ever issued a citizenship certificate to anyone? No one has such a certificate. Who will decide this? This has already caused chaos in Bihar,' the Congress told ANI on Friday. The Congress leader further said, 'What is the reason for this haste? This is a violation of people's voting rights. Just as demonetization happened, the government is now moving toward 'vote-bandi.' We oppose this. Now, even the Supreme Court has said that Aadhaar cards and ration cards should be recognised... Why isn't this happening across India?' Chowdhury's remarks came in response to an ongoing debate over the use of Aadhaar in the Special Intensive Revision of the electoral roll in Bihar. On Thursday, the Supreme Court allowed the Election Commission to continue with its exercise of conducting a Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in poll-bound Bihar. The Election Commission launched the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) to update the state's electoral rolls. However, opposition parties have raised concerns, arguing that the short timeline and strict requirements could lead to the exclusion of many eligible voters. The apex court posted for hearing on July 28 the pleas challenging ECI's move to conduct SIR of electoral rolls in Bihar and asked the poll panel to file its affidavit within one week. (ANI)
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
President Rule cannot be implemented arbitrarily: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Bengal Governor report
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury has criticized the proposal for President's Rule in West Bengal following Murshidabad violence, blaming the state administration for deteriorating law and order. Governor's report to the Home Ministry suggests Article 356 could be invoked if the situation worsens. Violence erupted during a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, leading to deaths, injuries, and displacement. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Popular in Politics Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Sunday criticised the reported proposal of the Governor to impose President's Rule in West Bengal over violence in Murshidabad, saying it cannot be implemented "arbitrarily" and blamed the state administration for the deteriorating law and West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose filed a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs over the Murshidabad violence , which reportedly says that the centre is open to implementing Article 356 (President's rule) if the state's condition further to ANI, Chowdhury said, "Implementation of Article 356 suddenly is not easy. We have a constitution here, as well as the judiciary. Arbitrarily, it cannot be implemented based on what the governor says. I don't know if there is a condition that the President's rule be implemented here. I understand that law and order are worsening here, and the state administration and the CM herself are responsible for it. For things to be better, this government must be removed, but not from the backdoor by implementing the president's rule."Violence erupted on April 11 in Murshidabad during a protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The violence resulted in two deaths, several injuries, and property damage. Thousands of people fled their homes in search of protest had turned violent and resulted in two deaths, several injuries and property damage. Thousands of people had fled their homes in search of on April 26, BJP MP Tarun Chugh had accused the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government of giving "shelter to rioters" following the violence in Murshidabad, and claimed that the silence proved complicity."The West Bengal government's silence on the premeditated and planned attack on Hindus in Murshidabad is proof that Mamata Banerjee's government has given shelter to the rioters," Chugh told protest later spread to other districts, including Malda, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly, where incidents of arson, stone-pelting, and road blockades were reported.
Indian Express
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
‘Riot tourism': Adhir hits out at Mamata over Murshidabad visit plan
SENIOR CONGRESS leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Saturday hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her scheduled visit to Murshidabad district that witnessed three deaths in clashes amid protests over the Waqf law last month. 'Didi is coming to Murshidabad when everything has been completed. Janaza (final journey) completed, qabr (burial) done. She is visiting for riot tourism.' Chowdhury, who is a former state chief of the party and an ex-MP from Murshidabad's Berhampore, was addressing a Congress rally there. Banerjee, who is scheduled to reach Berhampore on May 5, recently said she would also visit Samsherganj, one of the areas affected by the violence last month, on May 6. 'The CM is scheduled to arrive in Murshidabad on Monday late afternoon. She is scheduled to attend administrative programmes on Tuesday,' Rajarshi Mitra, District Magistrate, Murshidabad, told The Indian Express over phone on Saturday. Chowdhury said, 'Murshidabad has been defamed across the country because of the failure of the administration and TMC leaders. The state administration did not act with responsibility at the time. And after all these days, it has occurred to the CM that she should visit the district now.' Earlier, while calling for the Congress rally in Berhampore, Chowdhury said on Friday, 'The people know that she (CM) was not available during a crisis. She thinks that transferring police officers will resolve the problem but the people of Murshidabad will not forget. She will have to answer…' Several houses were allegedly ransacked in the violence last month, forcing residents to flee and take shelter in relief camps in the neighbouring Malda district. Chowdhury also claimed on Saturday, 'In Odisha and other states as well, migrant labourers from Bengal – a large chunk of whom are from Murshidabad – are facing atrocities but our state government has done nothing for them.' The ruling Trinamool Congress did not immediately react to Chowdhury's remarks.
Indian Express
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Days before CM's visit, Congress rally in Murshidabad today: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary
Senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday said the party would organise a rally in Murshidabad on Saturday, two days before Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scheduled visit to the district that witnessed clashes amid protests over the Waqf law last month. Three persons were killed in the violence that rocked several areas in Murshidabad. Sources in the Congress said the 'mega rally' would be held in Berhampore area and the party would highlight some key issues: The Waqf law and the violence that broke out in Samsergunj, Suti areas of Murshidabad district amid protests last month, apart from the loss of jobs of nearly 26,000 teaching and non-teaching staff due to the 'recruitment scam' under the TMC government in the state. A senior Congress leader said, 'Adhir da initially planned to organise a 'peace march' covering the areas affected by violence in Murshidabad. However, the police did not give permission for this as the CM is scheduled to visit on Monday. Police said they can give permission for the march only after her visit. Then, the party decided to hold a rally at Berhampore.' He claimed, 'Adhir da and our MP from Malda, Isha Khan Chowdhury, will lead the rally on Saturday and more than 50,000 Congress workers are expected to take part.' Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who is also a former state unit chief of the Congress and a former MP from Berhampore, said, 'When violence broke out, the CM did not come to Murshidabad. She is visiting now… the people know that she was not available during a crisis.' Chowdhury added, 'She thinks that transferring two police officers will resolve the problem but the people of Murshidabad will not forget. She will have to answer…' Several houses were allegedly ransacked amid the violence last month, forcing residents to flee and take shelter in relief camps in neighbouring Malda district.
