Mamata alleges Bengali-speaking workers being targeted in BJP-ruled states

Kolkata: Claiming that Bengali-speaking people from the state were being branded as Bangladeshis in some BJP-ruled states, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday said this cannot be allowed.

Banerjee told reporters in her Assembly chamber that she has information that 300-400 Bengali-speaking migrant labourers were confined in a building in Rajasthan during the day despite showing valid documents.

"Is it a crime to speak in Bangla, the language of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda among other luminaries. I think Prime Minister Narendra Modi is not aware of this development. I will draw his attention," she said.

She claimed that apart from Rajasthan, such incidents also took place in BJP-ruled Delhi and Madhya Pradesh in the past.

To a question, Banerjee said the chief secretary is taking up the latest such issue with his counterpart in Rajasthan.

The incident allegedly took place at Bhiwadi, Nabanna sources said.

"So far my knowledge goes, whoever arrived till 1971 is an Indian citizen," she added.

Banerjee said 1.5 crore migrant workers from different states are employed in different units in Bengal.

"But we can never imagine to take such steps which goes against the spirit of pluralism of India. What if such steps is taken against migrants from other states here for speaking their mother tongue? Is speaking Bengali considered sacrilegious by BJP-ruled regimes?" she asked.

She also claimed that Bengali has been removed as an optional language in the curriculum of Delhi University, expressing deep regret over the move.

"Is the Union Home Ministry under Amit Shah unaware of this witch-hunt against Bengali-speaking migrants?" she questioned.

The Chief Minister noted that around 22 lakh migrant workers from Bengal are currently employed in other states.

"I often urge people to stay back and work here, but many go outside the state in search of livelihood. Is it their crime to speak in Bengali? They carry all relevant citizenship documents," she said.

On alleged atrocities against Dalits in BJP-ruled states, she said, "This is very unfortunate that minorities and Dalits are being attacked." "They (Centre) despatch 10 commissions whenever any stray incident is alleged in Bengal. But the Centre remains silent when attacks on Dalits, women and minorities take place regularly in states ruled by their people (BJP)," she added.