Latest news with #Matua
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Hry releases 27 Bengal workers, 3 still in detention
1 2 Kolkata: As many as 27 of 30 Bengali migrant workers, held by Surajkund police in Faridabad since July 15, have been released, Trinamool Congress MP and chairman of West Bengal Migrant Workers' Welfare Board Samirul Islam said on Saturday. While they were released in a phased manner, three still remain in detention. All of them worked as ragpickers and hail from Nadia. On July 16, CM Mamata Banerjee walked from College Square to Esplanade to protest the detentions of Bengali migrants in different parts of the country. She claimed that the Centre "issued a secret notification in Feb to detain and arrest anyone speaking in Bengali in case of any suspicion". Calling it "super-Emergency", Banerjee also signalled that the state administration would legally challenge the detentions of Bengali-speaking migrant workers. Highlighting the continuing harassment of Bengali-speaking workers in BJP-governed states like Odisha, Assam, and Delhi, Islam added that even members of the Matua community and Rajbanshis were being detained and arrested. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Islam alleged that migrant Bengalis were being labelled as Rohingya and Bangladeshis, without verifying their identity. "The same thing happened in BJP-governed Maharashtra too. In Pune, Matuas were detained on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals. Shockingly, BJP MP and junior Union minister Shantanu Thakur, himself a Matua, is silent on the issue," he said. Mamata Bala Thakur, TMC's RS MP and a Matua leader , on Saturday visited the houses of some of the detained Matuas living in Bongaon to assure them that the state govt was taking all steps to ensure their early release.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Release my sons, says dad of Matua bros held in Maha jail
1 2 Kolkata: Two brothers belonging to the Matua community from Nadia are reportedly languishing in a Maharashtra prison for the last six months despite prod- ucing multiple Indian IDs and even identity cards issued by the All India Matua Mahasangha (AIMM), bearing the signature of junior Union minister and Bongaon BJP MP Shantanu Thakur . On Friday, the grieving parents of Manishankar Biswas and his younger sibling Nayan sought their immediate release, accusing Maharashtra Police of wrongfully detaining them on suspicion of being Bangladeshi immigrants. The accusations also triggered political outrage, coming just days after the arrest of six members from the community (including three children) in Pune on similar charges. Speaking from his home in Ranaghat's Rainagar, Nishikanta Biswas, a devout Matua follower, said the family was running from pillar to post to secure the release of his sons. He claimed that Manishankar and Nayan — both in their early 30s — furnished Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards and even AIMM identity cards as proof of Indian citizenship. However, Maharashtra Police allegedly dismissed these documents as "inadequate". You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "We are closely associated with the Thakurbari in Thakurnagar. We travel around singing devotional songs at all Matua religious events. My sons went to Pune for work, and we depend on their income to survive. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Since their arrest, my paralysed wife has not been able to get medical treatment," Nishikanta said, breaking down in tears. His wife reportedly suffered a brain stroke after hearing of her sons' detention, he said. "We voted for BJP, we trusted them," said Nishikanta, "but now we feel abandoned". The family said they reached out to several netas for help. "The police are treating them as illegal Rohingya immigrants despite having Indian documents. This is nothing short of harassment," said Sashikanta, Nishikanta's brother. Trinamool's Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Bala Thakur and MP Samirul Islam condemned the arrests, alleging members of the Matua community were facing systematic targeting in BJP-governed states like Maharashtra. "They are Indian citizens. They hold Aadhaar, voter cards and Matua Mahasangha IDs signed by Shantanu Thakur himself. Yet, they have been labelled as Bangladeshis. This is shameful," said Islam. "Matuas are being harassed in BJP-governed Maharashtra. It reflects the govt's deep-seated apathy and bias towards Bengali-speaking Hindus," Mamata Bala said. While Shantanu did not respond to calls, his brother Subrata Thakur, the BJP MLA from Gaighata, said the matter was resolved. "This is part of a legal process. When someone is suspected of being an infiltrator, the authorities concerned are bound to verify their documents. Once that is complete, they are released. TMC is unnecessarily politicising the issue," he said. Subrata said that large numbers of illegal immigrants, including Rohingya and Bangladeshis, had entered India, and police were conducting legal crackdowns in many states. Citizenship has been a restive issue among Matuas, prompting AIMM to issue the ID cards.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Mamata Banerjee to lead TMC's protest against detention of Bengali migrant workers in BJP-ruled states
In run up to 2026 elections next year, Trinamool Congress rekindles and reignites the 'Bengali asmita' ( Bengali identity ) to protest against alleged confinement, detention and labelling of Bengali migrant workers in BJP-ruled states in the country. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will hit the streets on Wednesday afternoon, along with Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, senior ministers, MPs and MLAs, to protest on the issue. Recently, Mamata Banerjee expressed concern over the confinement, detention and even deportation of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in the BJP-ruled states. There has been many instances of Bengali-speaking migrants workers' detainment in various parts of the country, including Odisha, Rajasthan, Delhi and Maharashtra, in the recent past. The chief minister has said that there 22 lakh migrant workers from Bengal work in different states. In a recent case, a family of three, including a minor, have been deported to Bangladesh from Delhi The family, supported by West Bengal government, has moved High Court and the HC has ordered the Delhi administration to submit details about the deportation. West Bengal. The court cases are being heard in High Court. In addition to Kolkata, in all districts, similar protest programmes have been launched all across the state in various districts from 2to 4PM. Live Events 'There is expression of hatred towards Bengali-speaking people. Infiltration should be stopped by the central government,' Trinamool senior leader and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said. In 2021, Trinamool Congress has launched a similar 'Bengal wants its own daughter' (Bangla Nijer Meyeke Chai), which worked well in Bengal, according to Trinamool Leadership . Meanwhile, members of the Matua community has reportedly faced harassment in Maharashtra. West Bengal Migrant Workers' Welfare Board has received information about at least six members of the Matua community being harassed from North 24 Parganas, currently residing in Pune, getting harassed by police in Maharashtra. 'Now members of our beloved Matua community have been facing harassment by the anti-Bengali BJP government in Maharashtra. Hatred in politics spares no one. BJP leaders are trying to malign Bengali-speaking migrant workers by branding them as Rohingyas. Recently, our office at the West Bengal Migrant Workers' Welfare Board received information about police harassment of at least six members of the Matua community from North 24 Parganas, currently residing in Pune, Maharashtra,' Samirul Islam, Chairman of Migrant Workers welfare Board, West Bengal, posted in his X Handle. 'We have already reached out to the affected family, who confirmed that the police in BJP-ruled Maharashtra have detained Arush Adhikary and at least five others including minors, on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals. Shockingly, BJP MP and Union Minister of State Santanu Thakur himself belongs to the Matua community. We have also learned that the Pune police are reportedly refusing to recognize identity cards issued by the All-India Matua Mahasangha (AIMM), besides EPIC and Aadhar cards. People from the Matua community confirmed that those identity cards were provided by BJP MP Santanu Thakur. Are these Matua brothers and sisters Rohingyas? BJP's toxic politics is targeting everyone—it is clearly anti-Bengali. Our Chief Minister @Mamataofficial will lead a protest march tomorrow. We will ensure the safe return of our harassed Matua brothers and sisters,' Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam said. BJP leadership in Bengal, however, said that Mamata Banerjee government is trying to shield the Rohingyas and infiltrators in Bengal and they are being arrested. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said, 'The Trinamool Congress is gearing up to craft a political narrative of Bengali identity. But in whose interest? In the interest of Bengali-speaking Rohingyas? Or in the interest of illegal Bangladeshi Muslim infiltrators? When the process of identifying and deporting illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya infiltrators has begun across India, the Trinamool leader is attempting to become their shield!'
Time of India
6 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
TMC MP: Matuas in Pune called ‘Bangladeshi', held
Kolkata: Matua community members were now being arrested in Pune as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants and police were refusing to accept their identity cards issued by All India Matua Mahasangha (AIMM), along with Aadhaar and EPIC, Trinamool MP Samirul Islam alleged on Tuesday. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The AIMM ID card bears the signature of junior Union minister and Bongaon MP Shantanu Thakur, who heads the Mahasangha. Citizenship has been a restive issue among Matuas, prompting AIMM to issue the identity cards. Islam, also chairperson of the Bengal Migrant Workers' Welfare Board, said in a post on X: "Members of the Matua community are experiencing harassment at the hands of the police in BJP-governed Maharashtra." Islam said Pune Police on July 2 arrested Arush Adhikari, a Matua and a resident of Habra in North 24 Parganas. The next day, on July 3, police arrested Adhikari's wife Priyanka along with their six-month-old baby, as well as his sister Banita Biswas along with her two children. The cops also arrested Bongaon residents Shib Biswas and Bibek Goswami. I n all, five persons and three minors were now in custody, said Islam. The Adhikari family, which migrated to Pune for work, was allegedly detained and labelled "Bangladeshi" despite possessing all valid documents and the AIMM card bearing Thakur's signature, Islam claimed. "Pune Police are not accepting the documents," he said, alleging that the BJP leadership was attempting to discredit Bengali-speaking migrant workers by associating them with Rohingya. This latest harassment of Bengalis comes after similar incidents in Odisha, Assam and Rajasthan, Islam claimed. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "The divisive politics of BJP appears to be specifically targeting Bengali people. Contact has been established with the impacted family, who verified that Maharashtra police have taken Arush Adhikary and seven others, including underage children, in custody on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals. BJP MP Shantanu Thakur is himself a member of the Matua community," Islam wrote on X. Trinamool's Rajya Sabha MP and Matua leader Mamata Bala Thakur criticised BJP for harassing people speaking Bengali while they had Matua Mahasabha cards signed by Thakur. Calls to Thakur's mobile went unanswered.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Matua migrants from Bengal being harassed in Pune: TMC MP
Amid reports of migrant workers from West Bengal being targeted in BJP-ruled States, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Tuesday alleged that those who belonged to the Matua community were facing harassment in Maharashtra. Rajya Sabha MP and chairperson of West Bengal Migrant Welfare Board Samirul Islam said his office received information about 'police harassment of at least six members of the Matua community from North 24 Parganas, currently residing in Pune'. 'Members of our beloved Matua community have been facing harassment by the anti-Bengali BJP government in Maharashtra. Hatred in politics spares no one. BJP leaders are trying to malign Bengali-speaking migrant workers by branding them as Rohingyas,' the Trinamool Congress MP said. Mr. Islam in a social media post said, 'The Pune police are reportedly refusing to recognise identity cards issued by the All India Matua Mahasangha, besides EPIC and Aadhaar cards.' The TMC leader said BJP MP and Union Minister of State Santanu Thakur himself belongs to the Matua community and asked whether Matua brothers and sisters are Rohingyas? He said that his office has 'reached out to the affected family, which confirmed that the police have detained Arush Adhikary and at least five others, including minors, on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals'. Protest planned today The TMC leader said he will hit the streets of Kolkata today to protest against the targeting of migrants from West Bengals. Earlier, there have been reports of migrants from the State being harassed and detained in Odisha, Maharashtra and Rajasthan. The Trinamool Congress had last week alleged that over 400 migrants from the State were detained in Odisha and the State's Chief Secretary wrote to his Odisha counterpart on the targeting of Bengali speaking migrants. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had expressed protests to such incidents and said that speaking in Bengali does not make a person ' Bangladeshi'.
