The Bangladeshi immigrant matter is likely to be a major politico-legal issue in the West Bengal Assembly elections. The administration of West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee said that Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states were being harassed over suspicion of being foreigners. Earlier this week, they unveiled a fresh finance plan that will give returning migrant families Rs 5,000 for 12 months.
According to the report by the home ministry to the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday, 723 illegal infiltrators were apprehended on the Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal till July, this year. That is compared with 1,694 in 2024 and with 1,547 in 2023.
Rai told the Rajya Sabha that 1,648 km of the 2,217 km of the international border in West Bengal has been fenced. Of the 569 km left, 456 km can be wall. And the state government has yet to commence acquisition for which payment has already been made, and has not yet been transferred by the state.
The minister stated that the Government of India and the West Bengal government were conducting regular reviews to address challenges related to land acquisition.
“In the double-engine government states, Bengali migrant workers are being attacked in a planned manner. They are being detained, jailed, and even deported to Bangladesh. Our 22 lakh migrant workers work in other states. We have decided to stand by those who have been tortured and are returning to West Bengal without anything,” the Chief Minister said on Monday.
