Migrants taking jobs from Bengal’s youth, says Modi
The Statesman | 23 August 2025
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday said that unchecked infiltration was depriving Bengal’s youth of jobs, while promising large-scale tourism and infrastructure projects if the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power in the state in 2026.
Speaking at a rally, Mr Modi pledged that projects such as inland tourism on the Bhaghirathi and sea tourism on Bay of Bengal, would generate employment for thousands of young people in West Bengal.
“You are seeing how, across the world, strict measures are being taken against infiltrators. Only BJP can rid Bengal of this menace. Give us one chance, and these illegal infiltrators will flee the state. We will ensure jobs and business opportunities for our unemployed youth. But infiltrators are snatching away their jobs. Such infiltrators will not be allowed to stay in India,” Mr Modi declared. He accused the Trinamul Congress (TMC), Congress and the opposition INDIA of practising “appeasement politics” and trying to “make space for infiltrators” in the country.
“Bengal is a border state. Farmers’ land is being snatched, tribal people are being exploited. The Centre has announced a demographic mission to stop this crisis. Infiltrators will have to leave, and this work will be completed with full honesty,” he said. Highlighting what he called BJP’s record of action, Mr Modi cited “Operation Sindur” and said the party was committed to promoting Bengali language and culture. He reminded the audience that the Centre had accorded Bengali the status of a classical language. “We want to create a Bengal where no youth has to migrate elsewhere for work,” he said. Calling infiltration the nation’s biggest concern, Mr Modi added: “Bengalis think ahead of time. Once you give us your vote, infiltrators who are stealing our youths’ jobs, blocking infrastructure, and committing crimes against women will start running away. The Indian government has launched a massive operation against them. But the INDIA bloc supports infiltrators through appeasement. In Bengal, infiltration is creating a social crisis. It must stop. That is why I announced the demographic mission from Red Fort.”
The Prime Minister said that for central projects to reach people, West Bengal must have a BJP government. “This land of Surendranath Banerjee and Satish Chandra Dasgupta has always been the centre of awakening. It has given the immortal call – ‘Arise, awake… light the new dawn in every heart’. Today, Bengal truly needs that new light,” he said. Mr Modi criticised successive regimes – Congress, the Left, and now the TMC – for failing to deliver.
“Fifteen years ago, you trusted ‘Ma-Mati-Manush’, but the situation only worsened. The future of youth is bleak, women are unsafe, and law and order has deteriorated. As long as TMC remains, Bengal’s development will remain blocked.” He said the BJP government at the Centre had invested heavily in Bengal’s growth. “For national highway construction, we have given three times the amount that the UPA government gave in 10 years. Railway allocations too have been tripled. But much of the central funds sent to the state are looted by TMC cadres, not spent on women, the poor or the needy.”
Comparing Bengal to Assam and Tripura, Mr Modi said: “Earlier, those states were lagging too. But after BJP came to power, the poor have started benefiting from welfare schemes. The same will happen in Bengal.” Mr Modi concluded: “Bengal is India’s most populous state. Until Bengal contributes fully, the vision of a developed India cannot be realised. BJP’s conviction is Bengal’s rise, and then the triumph of a developed India.”