Kolkata: The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not spoken strongly against reported attacks on the Hindu minority in Bangladesh, asserting that the ruling party in West Bengal firmly stands by Hindus and other minorities in the neighbouring country.
West Bengal Minister and senior TMC leader Shashi Panja accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of attempting to create a false narrative that the TMC has remained silent on atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh. Addressing reporters in Kolkata, Panja said her party unequivocally condemns violence against minorities across borders and has consistently raised concerns on humanitarian grounds.
TMC condemns killing in Bangladesh
“We condemn the killing of Dipu Chandra Das in Bangladesh in the strongest possible terms and stand firmly with our brothers and sisters of the Hindu community there,” Panja said. She maintained that the TMC’s position on minority rights has been clear and consistent, contrary to claims made by the BJP.
The minister alleged that despite repeated incidents targeting minorities in Bangladesh, neither Prime Minister Modi nor Union Home Minister Amit Shah has been vocal on the issue. “The Prime Minister speaks on many international matters. Why this silence when it comes to attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh?” she asked.
Questions raised over Centre’s response
Panja also questioned the role of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in responding to developments in Bangladesh. She asked what steps the Centre has taken diplomatically to address incidents of violence and intimidation faced by minority communities in the neighbouring country.
“The BJP keeps accusing others of appeasement politics, but when it comes to protecting minorities beyond borders, there is a complete lack of response from the Union government,” she alleged.
Allegations of attacks on Bengali-speaking migrants
During the press briefing, Panja also raised concerns about alleged attacks on Bengali-speaking migrant workers in different states, claiming that they were being targeted under the suspicion that they were Bangladeshis.
She alleged that three youths from the Suti block in Murshidabad district of West Bengal were attacked in Odisha after being accused of being Bangladeshi nationals merely because they spoke Bengali. “One of them has died, while the other two are seriously injured and are undergoing treatment at a hospital in Odisha. We condemn this incident in the strongest terms,” Panja said.
According to her, such incidents reflect growing hostility towards Bengali-speaking migrant labourers, who are often subjected to violence and harassment on the basis of language and identity.
BJP accused of remaining silent
Panja alleged that the BJP has remained silent on attacks against Bengali-speaking migrant workers, even as it continues to raise slogans about safety and nationalism. “When migrant workers from West Bengal are attacked elsewhere in the country, the BJP conveniently looks the other way,” she claimed.
She argued that language-based profiling of migrant workers undermines the constitutional right to freedom of movement and livelihood within the country.
Slogan at Modi rally questioned
Referring to the BJP slogan ‘Banchte chai, BJP tai’ (If you want to live, choose BJP), which was used during Prime Minister Modi’s recent rally in Ranaghat in Nadia district, Panja questioned its implications.
“Does the BJP mean to say that if one wants to live safely in this country, one must join the saffron party? What kind of message is this in a democratic setup?” she asked.
Odisha police clarify migrant worker death
Meanwhile, Odisha Police confirmed that a 30-year-old migrant worker from West Bengal was killed in Sambalpur district following an altercation over a bidi. Odisha’s Inspector General of Police (Northern Range), Himansu Kumar Lal, said six persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The IGP clarified that the murder had nothing to do with the victim’s language or nationality. “The incident was the result of a personal altercation and not linked to whether the victim was Bengali or Bangladeshi,” he said.
Conclusion
The TMC’s remarks come amid heightened political sparring between the ruling party in West Bengal and the BJP over issues of nationalism, minority rights, and migrant safety. While the Centre maintains that law and order is a state subject and that diplomatic channels handle international concerns, the TMC has reiterated its demand for a stronger and more vocal response from the Union government on attacks against minorities in Bangladesh and the safety of Bengali-speaking migrants within India.