Enrolment on voter list is your biggest shield, CM tells migrants | Kolkata News

Kolkata/Bolpur: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday presented enrolment on the voters’ list as a common shield against harassment of Bengali migrant workers in BJP-governed states and the special intensive revision of poll rolls, two potential problems facing TMC and a portion of the state’s residents in the run-up to the 2026 assembly poll.“Enrolment in electoral rolls is going to be one’s biggest shield in future,” she said at a state administration programme in Birbhum’s Illambazar, urging migrants working outside to return home at least once to get themselves on the voters’ list. Banerjee also focused on students who were turning 18, telling them as well that voter enrolment was going to be their biggest protection, as well as “minority brothers and sisters who work outside”.The issue of Bengali migrants being put in detention centres in BJP-governed states has also reached Calcutta High Court, prompting judges to ask probing questions. Several Bengali-speaking workers, whose families stay in districts this side of the border, have been pushed into Bangladesh. “Just coming home for Eid isn’t enough. You must ensure your name is properly added to voters’ list. And do try to stay here. If others can manage to live here on their earnings, so can you,” Banerjee said, insisting that there was an ongoing attempt “to implement NRC through the voters’ list”.“We must ensure that not a single genuine voter’s name is left out. Protest if anyone’s name is excluded. Demand answers from BLOs (booth level officers). I will not remain quiet even if one genuine voter’s name is omitted,” Banerjee said, accusing the Union ministry of home affairs of harassing Bengali-speaking people.“The torture is taking place under MHA directives. Bengalis are being persecuted and harassed across BJP-governed states. Many people went there for work long ago before Trinamool came to office. Some have been working there for more than 20-25 years. They are being put in detention camps despite having Aadhaar, PAN and land deeds; they are being taken from one police station to another,” she said, asking them to return home.“There is no shortage of jobs. They can work here. We will facilitate their travel, arrange for their employment under Karmashree and get school admissions done for their children. The Deucha Pachami project in this district alone will generate 1 lakh jobs,” she said.Banerjee, singling out Assam for sending NRC notices to people staying in Bengal, said govt of the neighbouring state should be ashamed.“Bengal does not need anyone’s mercy to survive. Your party (BJP) was not even there during the freedom struggle. Where were you when Bengali stalwarts were fighting for Independence? We will not tolerate this linguistic torture. We will not tolerate any torture inflicted on the language of Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam. The people of Bengal will not tolerate you and your torture,” the CM said, slamming central human rights agencies for ignoring the ongoing abuse.“How many commissions have visited states where Bengali-speaking people have been subjected to atrocities? Then, there is only omission and no commission,” Banerjee said.

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