Adhir Ranjan Meets PM Modi, Flags ‘Mistreatment’ Of Bengal Migrants In BJP-Ruled States

Last Updated:December 30, 2025, 5:08 PM IST

Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury met PM Modi to discuss torture of Bengali speaking labours in BJP-ruled states, citing Juelsek’s death in Odisha and urging action against discrimination.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Tuesday said he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the issue of “torture done on Bengali speaking labours in various states,” especially in BJP-ruled states.

“I met the PM and discussed the issue of torture done on Bengali speaking labours in various states. Especially, in BJP-led states… In Odisha, a migrant labourer named Juelsek was beaten to death,” said Adhir.

“I urged the PM to look into the matter because these are Indian citizens and they have the right to go anywhere in the country,” he added.

According to West Bengal Migrants Welfare Board, it has received 1,143 complaints of harassment in 10 months. Recently, two migrant workers were arrested in Mumbai on suspicion of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.

Deccan Herald reported that the Congress leader shared his letter with Modi in which he said the migrant workers from West Bengal are facing “severe discrimination in various states (most precisely BJP-ruled states)” and are facing “violence, hatred, abuse and even (being) beaten to death”.

“Their only offence is that they speak in Bengali language which are often misunderstood by the concerned administration as persons belonging to neighbouring Bangladesh and treated as infiltrators. It is ironic to note that…officers, including police, do not differentiate between ‘Banglabhashi’ and ‘Bangladeshi’…Without committing any offence, they are lodged in jail or detention centre…” he said.

He also urged the PM to “sensitize all the state governments” against discrimination, violence, and persecution of migrant labourers from other parts of the country.

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