Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, a senior Congress leader, articulated his concerns to Union Home Minister Amit Shah regarding the troubling reports of the profiling, harassment, and detention of Bengali-speaking workers in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, and other states. These allegations suggest that workers are being wrongfully suspected of being illegal Bangladeshi immigrants solely based on their linguistic background.

In a post on X, Chowdhury referred to media reports highlighting that vulnerable groups, including impoverished labourers, domestic workers, and women, are being targeted because they speak Bengali. He emphasized that many of these individuals possess valid identity documentation such as Voter ID cards and Aadhaar cards.

Chowdhury condemned the practice of custodial harassment and family separations, describing these actions as a blatant violation of fundamental constitutional rights and civil liberties. His correspondence with the Home Minister called for urgent intervention to address these concerns.

Official Status of Bengali Language

In his letter, Chowdhury underscored that Bengali is the second most spoken language in India, with over 9.72 crore speakers, and it enjoys official recognition under the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. He urged the Ministry of Home Affairs to take immediate action to stop indiscriminate detentions based on language and to implement stringent protocols that would prevent law enforcement from profiling individuals based merely on their linguistic affiliations.

The leader’s comments reflect a broader challenge regarding the usage of language as a basis for legal detentions and social discrimination. According to Chowdhury, the situation calls for reflection on whether the state perceives the Bengali language as a threat. He provocatively suggested that if this indeed were the belief, authorities should introduce a parliamentary resolution to remove Bengali from the Eighth Schedule altogether.

Chowdhury firmly stated that as long as Bengali remains protected as a constitutional language, citizens should not have to justify their patriotism based on their mother tongue. His concerns arise amid ongoing verification drives intended to scrutinise citizenship and tackle illegal immigration.

Reports of Discrimination in Other States

Compounding the issue are reports from various states, including Odisha and Karnataka, detailing incidents where migrant workers have faced social discrimination and unwarranted detentions. Recent events in Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, reflect a worrying trend where authorities have unjustly targeted Bengali-speaking individuals, highlighting the harsh realities of language-based profiling.

The incidents are often about local tensions over jobs and resources, exacerbating an already fraught environment for migrant workers. According to reports, local groups and law enforcement have physically assaulted these individuals based on their perceived status as illegal immigrants.

Moreover, there have been reports indicating that police have detained workers from West Bengal and Assam out of suspicion regarding their immigration status, although they later released many after verification of their documents. Such patterns of mistreatment raise serious questions about the rights of Indian citizens and the proper use of authority by state agencies.

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