Left Parties Protest Harassment of West Bengal Migrants in Other States

Quick Summary

• Left parties,including CPI(M),CPI,AIFB,and CPIML,held a rally in Kolkata on July 23,2025,protesting alleged harassment of Bengali migrant laborers in BJP-ruled states.
• Key demands: Both Union and West Bengal governments should ensure the safety and rights of migrants to work anywhere in india.
• CPI(M) leader Md Salim criticized the Election Commission and blamed BJP-RSS for failing to protect migrant workers.

– He also referred to Tamanna Khatun’s death due to a crude bomb explosion during Kaliganj bypolls as an example of broader violence impacting Bengal.
– Tamanna’s mother protested separately in Nadia district seeking justice for her daughter and protection for migrants.

• Left parties requested a special session of the West Bengal Assembly on migrant safety while criticizing both BJP-led central policies and TMC governance failures regarding migrant welfare.
• CM Mamata Banerjee previously called for protests starting Sunday against “linguistic terrorism” targeting Bengalis.
• Calcutta High Court directed Odisha’s government to respond to habeas corpus petitions regarding alleged illegal detention of two Bengali-speaking workers; Odisha denied detention claims.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The rally underscores growing concerns about the vulnerability faced by Bengali migrant workers amidst heightened political tensions between state governments led by different parties. The involvement of both leftist opposition groups and Trinamool Congress reflects broader political efforts in addressing regional identity-based grievances.

From an institutional perspective, allegations against election conduct or police accountability could impact public trust not only within state lines but may strain credibility at national levels if unresolved.Migrant safety is increasingly becoming intertwined with larger socio-political debates around federalism-the clarity with which states ensure safe interstate mobility will remain critical to preserving India’s unity amidst diversity.

While judicial intervention like that from Calcutta High Court offers immediate relief by safeguarding constitutional rights of individuals like detained migrants,long-term solutions may require institutional reforms addressing both labor protections across states and unbiased law enforcement implementations.

Read more: https://www.thehindu.com