Every Indian Citizen, Including Bengalis, Has the Freedom to Travel across India, According to Amartya Sen
The political landscape in India is currently fraught with tension, as allegations of harassment, illegal detention, and discrimination against Bengali-speaking migrant workers continue to surface. Reports suggest that these workers, particularly in BJP-ruled states such as Haryana, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Odisha, have faced arbitrary arrests, torture, and false labeling as Bangladeshi immigrants despite holding valid Indian identification [1][2][3].
Rights activists have documented these incidents, highlighting a pattern where the BJP and affiliated forces are accused of disregarding constitutional rights [1]. In response, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her party, the Trinamool Congress (TMC), have strongly condemned these actions. Banerjee has led protest rallies and called for stronger government intervention to protect Bengali migrant workers [2][4]. The TMC frames this as politically motivated persecution, pointing out a contradiction where the BJP seeks Bengali votes in West Bengal but allegedly harasses Bengalis elsewhere [1].
On the other hand, the BJP denies the allegations of harassment and accuses the TMC of politicizing the issue, calling moves like the helpline politically motivated [4]. The BJP's stance downplays or contests the claims of abuse, contributing to a polarized narrative around migrant workers’ treatment.
Notable figures have also weighed in on the issue. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen spoke about the issue of Bengali migrant workers being forcefully displaced. He emphasized the value of the Bengali language, citing its integration with 'Charyapad' and the messages in the works of Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam [5]. Sen also mentioned that the freedom to speak any language is a constitutional right for every Indian citizen.
Sen's speech at his ancestral home in Santiniketan sparked a political clash, with the TMC accusing the BJP of targeting Bengali Muslims, while the BJP calls it an election-driven agenda [6]. Sen's speech came in response to the issue of political tensions over the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers.
The TMC has been raising its voice over the issue of alleged harassment for the past month. Samirul Islam, Birbhum MP and Chairman of the West Bengal Migrant Workers Welfare Board, wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah about Bengali-speaking migrants being targeted in different parts of the country despite possessing valid identification documents, but received no response [7].
Mamata Banerjee has further escalated her attack on the BJP over the issue, starting 'Bhasa Andolan' or the Language Movement. She led a mega rally in Kolkata over the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers [8]. Banerjee accused the BJP of playing politics over the language issue.
In summary, the situation remains politically charged, with ongoing reports of harassment fueling protests and counter-accusations between the parties [1][2][4]. The issue reflects a sharp political divide:
| Aspect | TMC (Mamata Banerjee) | BJP | |-----------------------------|------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------| | View on harassment | Strong condemnation; calls it systematic abuse | Denies or dismisses allegations; calls it politicized | | Actions taken | Protest rallies; helpline for migrant support | Rejects claims, maintains governance legitimacy | | Political framing | Victimization of Bengali workers; violation of constitutional rights | Attempts to counter TMC narrative, supports state actions |
[1] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bengal-migrant-workers-in-rajasthan-are-being-harassed-says-trinamool/article32108596.ece [2] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bengal-migrant-workers-in-rajasthan-are-being-harassed-says-trinamool/article32108596.ece [3] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bengal-migrant-workers-in-rajasthan-are-being-harassed-says-trinamool/article32108596.ece [4] https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/bengal-migrant-workers-in-rajasthan-are-being-harassed-says-trinamool/article32108596.ece [5] https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/amartya-sen-slams-bjp-over-displacement-of-bengali-speaking-migrants-2524638 [6] https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/amartya-sen-slams-bjp-over-displacement-of-bengali-speaking-migrants-2524638 [7] https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/amartya-sen-slams-bjp-over-displacement-of-bengali-speaking-migrants-2524638 [8] https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/amartya-sen-slams-bjp-over-displacement-of-bengali-speaking-migrants-2524638
- Amidst the ongoing political tension in India, concerns about health and well-being of Bengali-speaking migrant workers continue to surface, as they face allegations of harassment, illegal detention, and discrimination in BJP-ruled states.
- In light of the general news regarding migrant workers, Nobel laureate Amarty Sen has underscored the importance of education-and-self-development and personal-growth, emphasizing the constitutional right for every Indian citizen to freely speak any language.
- The pressing issues of politics, war-and-conflicts, crime-and-justice, and policy-and-legislation aside, the treatment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers has become a major point of contention between the TMC (led by Mamta Banerjee) and the BJP, leading to protests and counter-accusations.
- The ongoing confrontation over the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers has led Mamata Banerjee to launch 'Bhasa Andolan' or the Language Movement, with a call for stronger government intervention to protect Bengali migrant workers against what she perceives as politically motivated persecution.
- The ongoing political climate in India has not only fueled controversy over the issue of migrant workers, but it has also spilled into other domains, such as the freedom of speech and the protection of constitutional rights for all citizens.
