Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury Raises Alarm Over Treatment of Bengali Migrant Workers

Concerns Raised by Former Congress Leader

Kolkata: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, the former president of the Congress party in West Bengal and a five-time Lok Sabha representative, has reached out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding the alleged mistreatment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in Maharashtra and Odisha, both governed by the BJP.

Chowdhury's correspondence with the Prime Minister coincides with a broader campaign led by the Trinamool Congress and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who are also addressing this pressing issue.

In his letter, Chowdhury highlighted instances where Bengali-speaking workers have reportedly been unfairly targeted due to their linguistic background, often being confused with Bangladeshi nationals.

He urged the Prime Minister to instruct various Union ministries, including Home Affairs and Labour & Employment, to safeguard the fundamental rights and dignity of these migrant laborers.

"Considering the distressing reports of harassment and abuse faced by Bengali-speaking laborers in Odisha, Maharashtra, and beyond, I sincerely request your intervention to protect these vulnerable individuals from their current plight," Chowdhury's letter stated.

He emphasized the significant contributions of Bengali-speaking workers to the economies of the states where they are employed.

Chowdhury condemned the discrimination faced by these workers, which stems from their physical appearance and language accent resembling that of Bangladeshis, asserting that such treatment is unacceptable.