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The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
West Bengal Chief Secretary seeks Odisha counterpart's help to stop harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers
West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant has written to his Odisha counterpart, Manoj Ahuja, seeking 'immediate intervention with utmost sensitivity' to stop the alleged harassment and arbitrary detention of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in various parts of Odisha. The letter, dated July 3, termed such treatment 'unacceptable' and sought verification of the Indian citizenship of these workers, who have 'long contributed to Odisha's economy as daily wage workers, rickshaw pullers, domestic help, and long-term settlers'. It also emphasised the need to protect their dignity and prevent any human rights violations in the region. Mr. Pant said despite multiple attempts at providing verified data from the West Bengal government for its people, there has been no concrete action in Odisha to stop such instances of harassment and offer relief to the migrant workers. 'We are receiving disturbing reports of such individuals being detained without due legal process in regions around Paradip and across coastal districts such as Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Malkangiri, Balasore, and Cuttack. Despite producing valid identity documents, including Aadhaar cards, ration cards, voter IDs, electricity bills, and PDS documents, the claims of these individuals are being dismissed,' the letter stated. 'Take humanitarian view' The Bengal Chief Secretary appealed to his Odisha counterpart to 'take a humanitarian view of the matter and ensure that these individuals, who are Indian citizens, are not subjected to arbitrary detention or harassment based on linguistic or regional identity'. Mr. Pant added that the West Bengal government is ready to provide any additional data and verification required to ensure that they remain safe. Trinamool Congress Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam also spoke out against the alleged harassment, stating that even after providing all required documents, including Aadhaar cards and electoral lists, the Odisha government was not satisfied. 'Odisha has no further demands, but still their police are refusing to release these poor migrant workers in many cases. They are detained illegally beyond 24 hours without being produced before the court,' Mr. Islam said in a social media post. He urged the Odisha government to 'not ignite the politics of hatred and let the migrants live in peace and with dignity'. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has on multiple occasions in the last few months alleged that people hailing from the State who speak in Bengali are being branded as 'Bangladeshis' in some BJP-ruled States. 'Is it a crime to speak in Bengali? Even Indians who have valid documents but are found speaking in Bengali are being branded as Bangladeshis and detained,' she said.
NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Bengal Chief Secretary Alleges "Harassment" Of Bengali Migrants In Odisha
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Thursday wrote to his Odisha counterpart, urging him to put an end to "harassment" of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in certain parts of the neighbouring state. Manoj Pant, in the letter, said the migrant workers are "targeted because they speak Bengali, which is their mother tongue" and "unjustly labelled as Bangladeshis". The labourers include daily-wage earners, rickshaw-pullers and domestic workers. "We are receiving reports of such individuals being detained without due legal process in regions around Paradip and across coastal districts such as Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Malkangiri, Balasore and Cuttack. What is even more concerning is that, even when these persons produce valid identity documents, their claims are being dismissed," Pant said. "In many instances, they are being asked to produce ancestral land records, dating back to several generations, an unreasonable and unjustifiable demand for migrant workers," he said. Attaching an image of Pant's letter, TMC Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam wrote on X that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee believes in diversity and strives to maintain harmony in every sense. "The Odisha authorities refused to accept any centrally issued identity documents like Aadhar and EPIC, and demanded verification from the Bengal government. We promptly provided the required details - verified and furnished by none other than the District Magistrates and Superintendents of Police of various districts. But, even that failed to satisfy them..." Islam said. "Now, Odisha has no further demands, but still, their police are refusing to release these poor migrant workers, in many cases. They are detaining those migrant workers illegally after 24 hours, without producing them before the court. They probably forgot about our constitutional right that allows us to roam around freely in any place of our country," the TMC leader said. Tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in the post, he said "what specific document do you require to recognise these poor citizens as Indians? What more do you want?" "Some might say they should carry passports. But let me tell you - shockingly, even passports are being rejected by BJP-ruled Delhi government when they detained a few migrant workers from Cooch Behar," Islam said. "I sincerely urge the Odisha government and the BJP: do not play with fire. If you ignite the politics of hatred, you may end up being consumed by your own flames," he added.
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Stop harassment of Bengal workers in your state, CS Pant writes to Odisha
Kolkata: Indicating a growing frustration with Bengali-speaking migrant workers being illegally detained in Odisha as Bangladeshis, Bengal chief secretary Manoj Pant on Thursday wrote to his Odisha counterpart, Manoj Ahuja, to put an end to this "continuing harassment faced by people from West Bengal" in the neighbouring state. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Samirul Islam, chairman of West Bengal Migrant Workers' Welfare Board and Trinamool's RS MP, threatened to move Calcutta High Court on the issue. "Thousands of people from Odisha live and work peacefully in Bengal. Not once has Bengal govt treated them with even a fraction of the hostility that Odisha is showing now," he said. Pant, in his letter, wrote: "We are receiving disturbing reports of such individuals being detained without due legal process in regions around Paradip and across coastal districts such as Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Malkangiri, Balasore and Cuttack. What is even more concerning is that even when these persons produce valid identity documents — including Aadhaar cards, ration cards, voter IDs, electricity bills and PDS documents — their claims are being dismissed. In many instances, they are being asked to produce ancestral land records dating back several generations, an unreasonable and unjustifiable demand for migrant workers." Pant also mentioned how, "alarmingly, there have also been instances where, despite verification reports from competent authorities in West Bengal confirming the identity and citizenship of the individuals, there has been no positive action or relief". "I appeal to you to take a humanitarian view of the matter and ensure that these individuals, who are Indian citizens, are not subjected to arbitrary detention or harassment based on linguistic or regional identity," he wrote. "It is deeply distressing to learn that many of them are being targeted solely because they speak Bengali — their mother tongue — and are being unjustly labelled as Bangladeshi infiltrators. This sweeping generalisation is not only unfair and discriminatory, but also deeply hurtful to citizens who have every right to dignity and protection under the law," Pant added. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Islam, who has been vocal on the issue, said: "The Odisha authorities refused to accept any identity document like Aadhaar and EPIC, and demanded verification from Bengal govt. We promptly provided the required details — verified and furnished by none other than DMs and SPs. But even that failed to satisfy them. Next, they asked for the electoral roll where names of these individuals were listed. Once again, the Bengal administration complied and sent the relevant documents. " The MP said: "Our CM Mamata Banerjee believes in diversity and strives to maintain harmony in every sense. So, I sincerely urge the Odisha govt and BJP: do not play with fire. If you ignite the politics of hatred, you may end up being consumed by your own flames."
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Act against harassment of Bengali migrants: Bengal chief secretary to Odisha
A week after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed concerns over reports of Bengali migrants being held captive in neighbouring Odisha on suspicion of being Bangladesh nationals, Chief Secretary Manoj Pant on Thursday wrote a letter to his Odisha counterpart asking him to take necessary action. Stating that there are serious concerns over 'the continuing harassment faced by people from West Bengal who have migrated to various parts of Odisha for livelihood', Pant wrote: 'It is deeply distressing to learn that many of them are being targeted solely because they speak Bengali — their mother tongue, and are being unjustly labeled as Bangladeshi infiltrators. This sweeping generalisation is not only unfair and discriminatory, but also deeply hurtful to citizens.' He stated that the West Bengal government has received 'disturbing reports of such individuals being detained without due legal process in regions around Paradip and across coastal districts such as Jagatsinghpur, Kendrapara, Bhadrak, Malkangiri, Balasore and Cuttack'. 'What is even more concerning is that, even when these persons produce valid identity documents – including Aadhaar cards, ration cards, voter IDs, electricity bills, and PDS documents — their claims are being dismissed… In many instances, they are being asked to produce ancestral land records dating back several generations, an unreasonable and unjustifiable demand for migrant workers,' he added. He wrote that, despite verification reports from competent authorities in West Bengal confirming the identity and citizenship of the individuals, no positive action or relief has been taken. 'This situation demands immediate and sensitive intervention. I appeal to you to take a humanitarian view of the matter and ensure that these individuals, who are Indian citizens, are not subjected to arbitrary detention or harassment based on linguistic or regional identity. We stand ready to extend all necessary cooperation to facilitate verification and resolution, and to assist in restoring the dignity and security of our fellow citizens,' he added. In recent weeks, there have been reports of West Bengal residents being detained in Gujarat, Maharashtra, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh — all BJP-ruled states. Two weeks ago, seven residents of West Bengal were detained by Mumbai police and pushed into Bangladesh by the BSF. They were later brought back from Bangladesh after the West Bengal government's intervention. In Delhi, eight members of the families of migrant labourers, hailing from Cooch Behar district, were detained on suspicion of being illegal Bangladesh nationals.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
16 Bengal workers detained in Odisha, chief secy intervenes
Kolkata: Odisha Police detained 16 workers from Birbhum on June 25, suspecting them to be Bangladeshi nationals. Bengal govt, through chief secretary Manoj Pant, has got in touch with the Odisha administration for the release of the workers, who are currently lodged at Remuna police station. The workers, all residents of Nalhati block 2, were unreachable since their detention as police confiscated their mobile phones. Their families had no direct communication with them for nearly a week. Seeking help, the families contacted a Trinamool youth neta from Nalhati, who escalated the matter to local legislator Ashok Chattopadhyay. After gathering proof of their Indian citizenship, Chattopadhyay, along with Birbhum DM Bidhan Roy, compiled the documentation and forwarded it to CS Pant. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The Bengal govt then initiated proceedings to secure the workers' release and return. The detained workers' citizenship documents are currently under review by Odisha authorities, said a source. This incident highlights the ongoing citizenship verification challenges faced by migrant workers from Bengal, with repeated incidents reported from multiple states even as Trinamool, led by CM Mamata Banerjee, has been raising objections. TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam on Monday alleged that Bengali-speaking migrant workers were facing "persecution" in BJP-ruled states and were being branded "Bangladeshis". "These migrant workers are being detained without any police records. Authorities are not even contacting the state govt to verify their citizenship. What, then, is the motive of Narendra Modi and Amit Shah?" Islam asked in a post on X. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Doctor's Day 2025 , messages and quotes!
