Dangerous than Emergency: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on detention of Bengali workers

Calling the detention of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in BJP-ruled states "illegal" and "more dangerous than Emergency", West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee raised a challenge that she be kept in a detention camp.

Speaking about a notification in BJP-ruled states, where provisions of illegal detention have been issued, she said: "I dare you to send me to a detention camp, I will speak more in Bengali." "Altogether 1,000 migrant workers have been arrested and detained in BJP-ruled states and many have been pushed back to Bangladesh. People from Birbhum, Cooch Behar, Nadia and other districts are being detained in Odisha and BJP-ruled states," she said.

"On February 2025, a notification was issued in BJP-ruled states where people can be kept in detention for a month... It is illegal detention and more dangerous than Emergency."


Banerjee said Bengali-speaking migrant workers were targeted in the name of NRC and are harassed and tortured. "We, from the West Bengal government, and Trinamool Congress are noticing this every day. We are receiving complaints. I am ashamed and pained by the actions of the India government and the BJP," Banerjee said.

Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said, "The Trinamool Congress is gearing up to craft a political narrative of Bengali identity. But, in whose interest? In the interest of Bengali-speaking Rohingyas? Or in the interest of illegal Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators? When the process of identifying and deporting illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators has begun across India, the Trinamool leader is attempting to become their shield!"