Rights activists flag torture of Bengali migrants in BJP-run states
Times of India | 30 July 2025
Kolkata: Rights activists expressed concern over incidents of harassment and torture of migrant workers from Bengal in BJP-governed states. At an event organised by Sangbidhan Bachao Desh Bachao Manch in Kolkata on Tuesday, activists Harsh Mander and Nadeem Khan highlighted reports of illegal detention, police abuse and discrimination against Bengali-speaking migrant workers.
Harsh Mander said many Bengali-speaking workers were being detained and tortured by police in Haryana's Gurgaon, Rajasthan's Jaipur, Gujarat's Ahmedabad and pockets of Odisha.
"Our Constitution guarantees every citizen the right to move anywhere within the country and earn a livelihood. But there are forces, including BJP and RSS, who disregard the Constitution," said Mander.
The activist said there were political contradictions in BJP's approach in Bengal. "While BJP seeks Bengali votes in Bengal, it is torturing them in states where it holds power.
"Rights activist Nadeem Khan, co-founder of Association for Protection of Civil Rights, who had earlier visited affected areas in Gurgaon, Jaipur and Ahmedabad, called for stronger intervention from the Bengal govt.
"These workers are mostly uneducated and struggle to support their families. Many don't even have phones. They often don't know how to seek justice or make use of govt provisions to protect them," he said, adding that the Bengal govt should consider sending a delegation of MPs to Gurgaon to understand and address these issues proactively.
Masiur Rahman, state president of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, said the state govt should create a dedicated department with nodal officers to register migrant workers from Bengal in other states to ensure their safety and protection of their rights.
The Bengal govt has already started a helpline for migrant workers facing harassment in other states to help them return.