Latest news with #Matuas
Time of India
11 hours 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
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee alleges harassment of Rajbanshis, Matuas in other states
Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday alleged that Rajbanshis and Matuas were subjected to torture and harassment in other states and people from a particular religion were also being targeted. Speaking at an event in Kolkata, while taking a dig at the Centre over giving political asylum to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, without naming anyone, the CM said, 'I don't comment on Centre's policies or when someone is kept here in India from the neighbouring country. There are political reasons and other reasons also. But why are you targeting Bengali-speaking people,' the chief minister asked. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Select a Course Category Public Policy MBA CXO others Digital Marketing Degree Cybersecurity Data Science Technology Leadership Data Science MCA Product Management healthcare Data Analytics Design Thinking Healthcare Artificial Intelligence PGDM Project Management Management Finance Operations Management Others Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Months IIM Calcutta Executive Programme in Public Policy and Management Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Economics for Public Policy Making Quantitative Techniques Public & Project Finance Law, Health & Urban Development Policy Duration: 12 Months IIM Kozhikode Professional Certificate Programme in Public Policy Management Starts on Mar 3, 2024 Get Details Banerjee said that the Bengali migrant workers could go anywhere to work. 'While Bangladesh is a neighbouring country, why will you say that people talking in Bengali are Bangladeshis? Rohingyas are from Myanmar. How can they learn Bengali?' Banerjee said while responding to BJP's allegation on Rohingyas. The BJP has been alleging that Rohingyas have entered Bengal from Bangladesh and their names have been enrolled in the voter list, with the help of Trinamool Congress. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cardiologist: The Best Method for a Flat Stomach After 50 (It's Genius!) Lulutox Undo Attacking the BJP-led government at the Centre, she said that caste, creed and religion cannot be reason for deleting names from a voter list. 'Those who are Indian citizens and are voters of Bengal will vote here. Why will you discriminate against the voters of Bengal based on caste, creed and religion?' Banerjee questioned. 'A notification says that Bengali-speaking people will be deported. Our migrant workers are skilled. In India, one can travel anywhere,' she said. On X, AITC wrote, 'Bengalis are being detained, branded as 'outsiders', and even deported while carrying valid documents in hand. From NRC notices to map erasure, the attacks aren't random, they're deliberate. It's time we connect the dots. Watch this and understand what's at stake.' Live Events The Trinamool also claimed that migrant workers from Coochbehar, working in Gurugram, were being allegedly harassed by police in Haryana. Senior Trinamool leader Partha Pratim Roy claimed that several workers from Sitalkuchi block of Cooch Behar district, working as labourers in Gurugram in Haryana for a long time, were subject to police atrocities. "One of them called me tonight and informed me that they are being summoned to the police station on suspicion that they are Bangladeshis. Despite showing their voter cards and Aadhaar cards, the harassment is not stopping," Roy claimed.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Rajbanshis, Matuas tortured in other states: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee claims that Rajbanshis and Matuas face torture in other states. She alleges Bengali speakers are unfairly targeted and labeled as foreigners. Banerjee criticizes the central government's policies regarding Bengali-speaking people. She questions the deletion of names from voter lists based on caste and religion. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday alleged that Rajbanshis and Matuas were subjected to torture and harassment in other states and people from a particular religion were also being at an event in Kolkata, while taking a dig at the Centre over giving political asylum to former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, without naming anyone, the CM said, "I don't comment on Centre's policies or when someone is kept here in India from the neighbouring country. There are political reasons and other reasons also. But why are you targeting Bengali-speaking people?"Banerjee said that the Bengali migrant workers could go anywhere to work. "While Bangladesh is a neighbouring country, why will you say that people talking in Bengali are Bangladeshis? Rohingyas are from Myanmar. How can they learn Bengali?" Banerjee said while responding to BJP's allegation on Rohingyas. BJP has been alleging that Rohingyas have entered Bengal from Bangladesh and their names have been enrolled in the voter list, with the help of Trinamool Congress Attacking the BJP-led government at the Centre, she said that caste, creed and religion cannot be reason for deleting names from a voter list. "Those who are Indian citizens and are voters of Bengal will vote here. Why will you discriminate against the voters of Bengal on basis of caste, creed and religion," Banerjee questioned. "A notification says that Bengali-speaking people will be deported. Our migrant workers are skilled. In India, one can travel anywhere," she X, Trinamool wrote, "Bengalis are being detained, branded as 'outsiders', and even deported while carrying valid documents in hand. From NRC notices to map erasure, the attacks aren't random, they're deliberate. It's time we connect the dots."Trinamool also claimed migrant workers from Coochbehar, working in Gurugram, were being harassed by police in Haryana. Senior leader Partha Pratim Roy claimed several workers from Sitalkuchi block of Cooch Behar district, working as labourers in Gurugram in Haryana, were subject to police atrocities.
Time of India
4 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.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari expresses concern over situation of Matuas and Sanatanis in Bangladesh
Suvendu Adhikari voiced concerns to the Bangladesh High Commission regarding alleged attacks on Matuas and Sanatanis in Bangladesh, emphasizing their ties to Indian residents. He also urged the Election Commission to hold separate West Bengal Assembly elections in 2026, citing a 'terror' environment allegedly created by the Trinamool Congress, further criticizing rising electricity tariffs and water meter installations. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari , on Friday expressed concerns over Matuas and Sanatanis in Bangladesh, who are allegedly attacked and with other MLAs, reached Bangladesh High Commission , to express his concern and informed the Bangladesh High Commissioner about the also said that he has met Bangladesh High Commission, voicing about the torture on the Matua and other Sanatani Vaishnavites in several villages in Bengladesh.'I am not concerned about the internal issues and situation of Bangladesh. I care about the Matua community and the Sanatanis who are tortured there. Many of them are relatives of people who are in India. We have genuine concern about them,' Adhikari were a major vote bank for Left Front, then Trinamool and now BJP. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised in Matua headquarter Thakurnagar that CAA will be community, with more than one crore voters in the state, is spread over Nadia, Coochebehar, North and South 24 Parganas districts bordering Adhikari also urged the Election Commission to conduct West Bengal Assembly elections 2026 separately and not to club it with other states, alleging about the existence environment of 'terror" created by the ruling Trinamool said that miscreants had attacked several BJP workers and supporters while they were heading towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Alipurduar on Thursday. Incidentally,Trinamool goons allegedly vandalised 34 vehicles and injured 22 BJP workers stopping them from reaching the PM's rally, Adhikari claimed. Several buses were vandalized and front glasses broken."The language used by Trinamool leaders against the Prime Minister is unacceptable and undemocratic. Under such circumstances, it is difficult to conduct free and fair elections in West Bengal," Adhikari said. He requested the EC not to club the state's polls with Assam, Bihar or Bengal is scheduled to go to the polls in 2026. In the last 2021 assembly polls, though BJP had set a target of more than 200 seats, the saffron party got 77 criticized the state government over rising electricity tariffs and water meters installed at various locations.
