Mamata Banerjee Condemns Evictions of Bengali Migrants in New Delhi
Eviction of Bengali Workers in New Delhi
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of labeling Bengali migrants as 'infiltrators' and claimed that residents of a predominantly Bengali settlement in New Delhi are facing forced evictions.
Banerjee stated, “Speaking Bengali does not equate to being Bangladeshi.”
In a post on social media, she expressed her concern over the troubling reports of harassment directed at Bengali-speaking migrant workers residing in Jai Hind Colony, Vasant Kunj.
According to her, the BJP-led government in Delhi has ordered the cutting off of their water supply, confiscated electricity meters, and abruptly halted power on Tuesday.
She further alleged that the Delhi Police, supported by the Rapid Action Force (RAF), obstructed private water tankers that the residents had arranged and paid for.
Banerjee emphasized that these evictions are occurring despite the ongoing legal proceedings regarding the matter. “How can we call ourselves a democratic republic if fundamental rights to shelter, water, and electricity are being violated?” she questioned.
She highlighted that over 15 million migrant workers in West Bengal live with dignity, contrasting this with the treatment of Bengalis in BJP-ruled states, where they are viewed as outsiders in their own nation.
Banerjee asserted that these migrant workers are as much citizens of India as anyone else, regardless of their language.
“After failing to undermine Bengalis in West Bengal, the BJP is now spreading its anti-Bengali agenda to other regions systematically,” she added, noting reports of targeted harassment against Bengali speakers in states like Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh.
“We will not stay silent while our people are treated as trespassers in their homeland,” she declared, vowing to raise the issue in every possible forum.
Her remarks followed claims by Rashtriya Janata Dal MP Manoj Jha, who also reported that residents of Jai Hind Colony were being evicted. He mentioned that Bengali Muslims, who primarily work as domestic and sanitation workers, reside in the area.
Jha stated, “They allege that their water connection has been terminated by the Jal Board on the Delhi government's orders, and this morning, all electricity connections in the colony were cut off, with meters seized.” He questioned whether such actions align with the principles of governance and rule of law in a democratic society.
He also noted that the Delhi Police had conducted a document verification process in December, and locals claim they are being evicted while their legal cases remain unresolved.
I am deeply disturbed by the alarming news of harassment emerging from Jai Hind Colony in Vasant Kunj, New Delhi — a settlement predominantly inhabited by Bengalis who build the city as part of its unorganised workforce.
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 10, 2025
Their water supply was reportedly cut on orders from the…
Banerjee's accusations come shortly after four men from West Bengal were forcibly taken by the Maharashtra Police and sent to Bangladesh, only to be returned on June 15 after the Murshidabad Police provided proof of their Indian citizenship.
In recent weeks, Indian authorities have been implementing a policy to 'push' individuals deemed undocumented migrants back into Bangladesh, with over 2,000 people reportedly sent back since the initiation of 'Operation Sindoor', aimed at terrorist camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
The legality of this 'push back' policy has sparked debate both domestically and internationally, with experts asserting that it contravenes India's obligations under international law.