Tue Jun 24 23:55:00 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has accused BJP-ruled states of targeting Bengali-speaking Indian citizens, falsely labeling them as Bangladeshis and detaining them, even with valid documentation. She claims hundreds of Bengali speakers from West Bengal are being detained in Rajasthan and some have even been pushed back into Bangladesh. She views this as a violation of India’s pluralistic spirit and intends to raise the issue with Prime Minister Modi. This isn’t the first time Banerjee has made such accusations, citing previous incidents where Bengali migrant workers were allegedly deported.

**News Article:**

**Bengali Speakers in India Targeted, Claims West Bengal Chief Minister**

**Kolkata, June 25, 2025** – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has leveled serious accusations against BJP-ruled states, alleging the discriminatory targeting and detention of Bengali-speaking Indian citizens. Banerjee claims that individuals are being falsely branded as Bangladeshis simply for speaking their native language, even when possessing valid Indian documentation.

Speaking to journalists today, Banerjee stated, “Is it a crime to speak in Bengali? Even Indians who have valid documents, but if they are found speaking in Bengali, they are being branded Bangladeshi and being detained.” She further reported that hundreds of people from West Bengal are currently being detained in Rajasthan, with some instances of residents being “pushed back” into Bangladesh.

Banerjee emphasized that Bengali is a constitutionally recognized language and a symbol of Indian heritage. She plans to bring the matter to the attention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, believing he is unaware of these developments.

This follows previous accusations from Banerjee regarding the mistreatment of Bengali speakers in BJP-ruled states. Last week, she claimed that residents were being discriminated against due to their language. Earlier this month, several migrant workers from West Bengal were allegedly deported to Bangladesh after being detained in Maharashtra.

Banerjee highlighted the significant number of West Bengal migrant workers employed in other states, and the potential repercussions if such actions were reciprocated. “What if such steps are taken against migrants from other states here for speaking their mother tongue? Is speaking Bengali considered sacrilegious by BJP-ruled regimes?” she questioned.

MLA Mosarraf Hossain confirmed that many of the detained workers in Rajasthan are from his constituency and possess valid documentation. The allegations raise serious concerns about the treatment of linguistic minorities within India.

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