Odisha Govt Warns Illegal Bangladeshi Infiltrators; BJD Terms Issue ‘Minor’
What are you doing? A political controversy erupted in Odisha on Wednesday after the state government intensified its action against illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators; The opposition Biju Janata Dal, on the other hand, called the issue “trivial” and accused the ruling party of politicizing the issue.
Odisha law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan issued a stern warning to foreign nationals allegedly residing in the state illegally, asserting that the government has launched a statewide identification and deportation drive under the rule of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Speaking to reporters, Harichandan said that the state government started the identification process last year and some people alleged to be Bangladeshis have already been deported. He claimed that the government would continue to put pressure on the state in the name of security and legal sanctions.
“The Odisha government is quite alert in this regard. We have already started the identification process since last year. As per the directive of the Prime Minister, Home Ministry officials have given importance to it. Many illegal Bangladeshis have been deported in the past and this initiative will continue in the coming days,” the Minister said.
Harichandan also warned that “there will be no escape” for those found to be residing illegally in Odisha and stressed that the administration is determined to maintain strict control against unauthorized foreign nationals.
However, the minister’s remarks sparked harsh reactions from the Opposition BJD, which accused the BJP-led government of exaggerating isolated incidents to divert public attention from governance-related issues.
Senior BJD leaders argued that the number of Bangladeshi infiltrators detected in Odisha was negligible compared to the state’s population of over 4.5 crore. The party claimed that the issue was unduly portrayed as a politically important security issue.
BJD also pointed out that while neighboring states like West Bengal are reportedly facing a much bigger problem with undocumented immigrants, Odisha has detected only a limited number of such cases.
