Amid attacks on Bengali migrants, Mamata seeks Odisha CM Mohan Majhi’s ‘intervention’

The Odisha CM has promised such incidents ‘would not be repeated’, it has been learnt. Comes as the Bangladesh crisis sparks fears of migration.

According to sources at the West Bengal secretariat Nabanna, Majhi has assured her such incidents “would not be repeated”.

Amid reports of attacks on Bengali migrant workers in Odisha, West Bengal Chief Mamata Banerjee dialled her Odisha counterpart Mohan Charan Majhi’s number to seek his intervention, The Indian Express has learnt. The attacks come at a time of a political crisis in the neighbouring Bangladesh, sparking fears of illegal immigration in India.

According to sources at the West Bengal secretariat Nabanna, Majhi has assured her such incidents “would not be repeated”.

The state government is stated to be keen on bringing these migrants back, with sources quoting the CM as “promising them employment” in the state.

The latest phone call between the chief ministers of West Bengal Bengal and Odisha comes at a time when a widely circulated video purportedly shows a Bengali-speaking vendor being assaulted in Odisha. In the video, the vendor is assaulted when he fails to produce his Aadhaar card.

According to the sources, several Bengali migrant workers living in Odisha have been “harassed” on suspicion of being Bangladeshi immigrants. Last week, at least 20 such workers from Murshidabad district who were allegedly beaten up in Odisha were rescued and brought back to the state.

Migrant workers’ association Parijayee Shramik Aikya Mancha has flagged their concerns to the state’s migrant workers welfare board. “It’s unfortunate that somebody who talks in Bengali is being branded a Bangladeshi. I have raised this matter earlier in Parliament too. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has herself intervened in this matter,” Samirul Islam, the board chairman and a Rajya Sabha MP from Bqanerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC), told The Indian Express, adding that it was a person’s “constitutional right” to take up employment in any part of the country.

The West Bengal government’s helpline number for migrant workers is 1800-103-009.

Atri Mitra

Atri Mitra is a highly accomplished Special Correspondent for The Indian Express, bringing over 20 years of experience to his reporting. His work is characterized by deep regional knowledge and a focus on critical administrative and political developments, establishing strong Expertise and Authority in his domain. Experience Current Role: Special Correspondent, The Indian Express. Decades of Experience: Over two decades of extensive reporting experience, primarily covering administration and political news. Geographical Focus: Holds significant reporting experience from West Bengal, Bihar, and the North-East, providing a comprehensive understanding of the socio-political landscape in these regions. Key Coverage: Has dedicated more than ten years to covering administration and political news, with a keen focus on political developments in West Bengal. Electoral Reporting: Demonstrated a commitment to crucial political moments, having covered the 2009 Lok Sabha election and 2010 assembly elections during his time at Anandabazar Patrika, and the 2019 Bihar Lok Sabha election while working with News18-Bangla. Career Foundation: Began his career at the leading vernacular daily Anandabazar Patrika, where he worked for more than fifteen years, including a three-year stint as the Bihar correspondent. Education Advanced Degree: Holds a Master's degree in Economics from Rabindrabharati University, providing an analytical framework for his political and administrative reporting. Undergraduate Education: Holds a Bachelor's degree from Calcutta University. Prestigious Alumni: His educational background includes attending esteemed institutions: he is an alumnus of St. Xavier's, Kolkata and Ramakrishna Mission Asrama, Narendrapur. Atri Mitra's decades of dedicated reporting, substantial focus on political and administrative beats, and solid academic credentials make him a trusted and authoritative source for news and analysis from Eastern and North-Eastern India. ... Read More

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