Bangladeshis or Bengali Migrants? Trinamool and BJP Clash Over Detention of 444 Workers

The Odisha government’s recent detention of 444 suspected Bangladeshi nationals has sparked a heated political battle with the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), which claims most of those held are Bengali-speaking migrant workers. The issue, which has been brewing for several days, has now reached the Calcutta High Court, which questioned the Odisha government’s handling of the detentions.

The controversy began after Odisha launched a special crackdown on illegal immigrants in Jharsuguda district, where authorities detained 444 people. Intelligence inputs had reportedly indicated a significant presence of Bangladeshi nationals in the area. An Odisha police officer clarified that the detainees were held because they couldn’t provide valid residency or citizenship documents and stressed that the police were not targeting any particular community.

“The individuals under scrutiny lack valid documentation to establish their residency or citizenship. This procedure is not about targeting any community or region but about ensuring the security of our nation,” tweeted Himanshu Lal, IGP of Northern Range, Sambalpur.

However, the TMC pushed back strongly, claiming that over 200 of those detained were migrant workers from Bengal districts like Nadia, Murshidabad, Malda, Birbhum, Purba Bardhaman, and South 24 Parganas. The party accused Odisha authorities of carrying out raids specifically in Bengali-speaking labour colonies.

“Atrocities against Bengali-speaking migrant workers continue in Odisha... The BJP government recently detained over 200 migrant workers from Bengal districts on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals,” TMC Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam said. He questioned why Bengalis were being singled out, asking, “What grudge do Narendra Modi and Amit Shah hold against these poor Bengalis?”

TMC MP Mahua Moitra, vocal in her criticism, said 23 workers from her constituency were among those detained. She pointed out that such actions never happened during the Naveen Patnaik-led BJD government’s rule in Odisha and warned the state’s economy could suffer if Bengali tourists stop visiting.

“50% of Odisha’s tourism revenue comes from Bengali tourists. They stay in hotels, eat at restaurants, and visit pilgrimage sites like the Jagannath temple in Puri,” Moitra said. She shared a video of a man detained with others who claimed they were Indian citizens, not Bangladeshis.

Following public outcry, the Odisha government released some of the detainees. Yet, Moitra continued to press the issue, tweeting that two of the 23 workers from her constituency were still held because their phones had Bangladeshi contact numbers. “All BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) members should be detained by the same logic,” she sarcastically added.

Responding to Moitra, BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya called her a “loudmouth” and accused the TMC of facilitating the entry of Bangladeshi infiltrators. “335 out of 444 had fake documents — issued by none other than the TMC government in West Bengal. Every state must be cautious when hiring labourers or employees with fake Bengal-issued documents,” Malviya said.

The matter soon reached the Calcutta High Court, which grilled the Odisha government on the detentions. The court asked where the migrant workers were being held, on what grounds they were detained, and whether any legal action had been taken. It directed the Bengal chief secretary to coordinate with his Odisha counterpart to facilitate the release of the detained workers.

This order followed a petition from a man who claimed his son, who had gone to Odisha seeking work, was among those detained. The case continues to unfold amid tense political accusations and concerns over migrant rights.