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The Wire
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Wire
MHA Directive Contradicts Union Minister's Lok Sabha Reply on Detentions of Bangla-Speaking Migrants
While Shobha Karandlaje said state police were responsible for the drives against suspected undocumented immigrants, a May 2 Union home ministry directive proves otherwise. The recent crackdown has left the entire Khatola neighbourhood in Gurgram, where Assamese migrant workers live, deserted. Photo: Shruti Sharma New Delhi: On August 11, speaking in the Lok Sabha, Union minister of state for labour and employment Shobha Karandlaje replied to Trinamool Congress MP Abishek Banerjee's question on detentions of Bangla-speaking migrant workers. She said that the responsibility lay with state governments, citing 'public order' and 'policy' as state subjects. While she shared general statistics on migrants from West Bengal, she evaded Banerjee's question regarding concrete data on detained Bangla-speaking migrants. Karandjale's reply seemed to suggest that somehow, different police forces across states, especially in those ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party, spontaneously began simultaneous detention drives of their own accord. However, a directive from the Union home ministry (MHA) and inputs The Wire gathered from officials, lawyers and detainees, point to quite the opposite – that the detentions follow MHA guidelines. On May 2, the MHA (Foreign Division) had issued a directive to the chief secretaries of all states and union territory administrations, DGPs/IGPs of all states/UTs, the DG of the Border Security Force, DG of Assam Rifles, and DG of Coast Guard, outlining the procedure for deporting undocumented Bangladeshi nationals and the Rohingya. Though a copy of this directive is unavailable online, it has been widely reported in the media. The directive reads, 'The Central Government has laid down the legal framework wherein all State Governments and Union Territory Administrations are fully empowered to take action regarding detection, imposing restrictions on the movement of illegally staying foreign nationals and their deportation/ removal/ expulsion as per the provisions in the Passport (Entry into India) Act, 1920, the Foreigners Act, 1946 and the Foreigners Order, 1948.' It further states, 'Since the Central Government does not maintain a separate federal police force exclusively dedicated to the task of detection, imposing restrictions on movement and deportation of illegally staying foreigners, action in this regard has been entrusted to the State/ UT police.' 'Therefore, State Governments/ UT Administrations are primarily responsible for identifying the illegally and overstaying foreign nationals, their restriction in identified places and their deportation.' Also read: In Dhubri, Muslim Residents Were Evicted First and Then Deleted from Electoral Rolls The directive also lays down guidelines to be followed while apprehending Bangladeshis and Rohingya living illegally in the country. It said: '(i) All State Governments/UT Administrations shall set up a Special Task Force in each District under the police of the State/UT to detect, identify and deport / send-back illegal immigrants from Bangladesh / Myanmar settled in the State/UT concerned. (ii) All State Governments/UT Administrations shall set up adequate Holding Centers in each District under the Police of the State/UT to detain illegal immigrants from Bangladesh / Myanmar. (iii) In respect of Bangladesh / Myanmar nationals identified to be staying unauthorizedly in any particular State/UT, an inquiry shall be conducted by the State Government/UT concerned. (iv) If the suspected Bangladesh / Myanmar national claims Indian citizenship and residence of a place in any other Indian State/UT, the concerned State Government/UT would send to the Home Secretary of the State/UT and District Collector/District Magistrate of the District from where the suspected person claims to hail, the details including name, parentage, residential address, details of near relatives etc. The State Government/ UT/Collector/District Magistrate concerned in turn will ensure that an appropriate report is sent to the deporting State Government/UT after proper verification within a period of 30 days. During the period of 30 days, the suspected person shall be kept in the Holding Center to ensure physical availability at the time of deportation/ send back. If no report is received within the period of 30 days, the Foreigners Registration Officer may take necessary action to deport/ send-back the suspected Bangladesh/Myanmar national. If a person is identified as an illegal Bangladesh national / Rohingya after the enquiry, the State/ UT shall immediately capture their biometrics (fingerprints and facial photographs) and demographic details on the Foreigners Identification Portal (FIP) of the MHA. Where connectivity is not available, these shall be captured offline and then shall then be uploaded on the Foreigners Identification Portal (FIP) of the MHA as soon as possible. For this purpose, the State/ UT shall use the biometric equipment available at the Districts under the District Police Module for capturing the biometric data on FIP. In case biometric equipment is available at the Police Station in the State/UT, the same may be used to upload data on the FIP. The use of NAFIS to capture biometrics will stand to be discontinued. All State Governments/UT Administrations should maintain a record of illegal Bangladesh nationals or Rohingya handed over to designated Border Guarding Forces / Coast Guards for deportation and send a report in this regard to the Ministry of Home Affairs by the 15th day of every month through the FRRO. This report is mandatory. The order instructs states, UTs, and border guarding forces to strictly follow the revised deportation guidelines and avoid 'unnecessary publicity' around such actions. It further says that complete details of any detained Bangladeshi or Rohingya should be sent to the Ministry of External Affairs.' It carries the signature of Pratap Singh Rawat, under secretary, MHA (Foreigners). Initially, this MHA directive was not publicly available, not even on the ministry's website. When The Wire inquired with Gurugram police officials about the order, they confirmed receiving a copy but refused to share it. The PRO of Gurugram Police had told The Wire, 'Although police can detain 'suspected' foreign nationals without any order from the government, in this matter, we have the MHA directives.' Senior police officials at various instances reiterated the same claim. However, under the Foreigners Act of 1946, a uthorities cannot detain individuals solely on suspicion of being foreign nationals. Despite being severely critiqued as flawed by legal experts, there is an expectation on the part of the state to produce some evidence before a foreigners tribunal, like in the case of Assam, to challenge a person's citizenship. Last month, The Wire reported on how the Gurugram Police detained hundreds of Bengali-speaking migrant workers from West Bengal and Assam – most of whom are Muslim – on the suspicion of them being Bangladeshi citizens living in India without the required documents. People were detained despite many of them possessing Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards and, in some cases, even passports issued by the Government of India. All were later released except ten individuals whom the police claimed were 'confirmed Bangladeshis'. Following the crackdown, large numbers of Bengali-speaking migrant workers fled to Assam and West Bengal, fearing police action and harassment. In Gurugram's Khatola village – a neighbourhood that housed around 2,000 Assamese workers – most residents have fled to their villages in Assam. Also read: Bengal Migrant Who Was Stripped and Beaten in Odisha, Returns to Work – in Nagpur A copy of the May 2 MHA directive was obtained by the All India Lawyers Association for Justice (AILAJ), a pan-India association of lawyers and law students. AILAJ has called on the Union home ministry to withdraw this 'unconstitutional and illegal' directive, which they say allows the detention of individuals solely on suspicion of being foreign nationals. It has demanded that such detentions be stopped altogether and urged the courts to intervene to halt what it sees as a violation of constitutional rights. They said the May 2 directive is part of a broader assault on citizenship and the rights of working people, particularly Muslims and non-Hindi-speaking communities. It linked the Gurugram crackdown to other measures such as the verification drive in Assam, sudden voter roll revisions in Bihar, forced evictions, imposition of Hindi and the institutionalisation of Islamophobia through laws and media narratives. Legal scholar Mohsin Alam Bhat, who recently released a report titled 'Unmaking Citizens: Architecture of Rights Violations and Exclusion in India's Citizenship Trials' which argues that India's citizenship tribunals have transformed into instruments of exclusion, told The Wire in an interview this month that the detentions outside Assam – including in Gurugram and NCR – are worse than Assam. 'There is no process here,' he said. 'This is a system built on distrust and suspicion. A police official sitting in Haryana can decide who's an Indian just by looking at their faces or hearing them speak.' The Trinamool Congress has accused the Union government of evading questions on the detentions. The party alleged that the Union home ministry under Amit Shah had earlier directed BJP-ruled states to profile Bengali speakers, brand them as 'Bangladeshis' and push them out, making the Union government equally accountable for the harassment, detention and deportation of innocent workers. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
India.com
31-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India.com
Most watched series on OTT: This series set in rural India will leave you shocked, outshines most crime thrillers; Name is..., actors are...
Nowadays, after Panchayat and Gram Chikitsalaya , small-town dramas are being continuously released on OTT platforms. These series have also received a tremendous response from the audience. There's no unnecessary glamour or over-the-top drama. Continuing this trend, another web series with a concept of village life was streamed on OTT on July 10. This series has touched people's emotions through its simple storytelling and has captured their hearts. The 8-episode series features Shruti Sharma, Alka Amin and Ishwak Singh. It depicts how people are leaving their villages and settling in cities in search of work. They are adopting urban culture and making significant progress. However, when these individuals return to their villages, they find a sense of peace, something they could never experience in the city life where they live in luxury. The name of this series is Mitti: Ek Nayi Pehchaan. It is directed by Alok Kumar Dwivedi and Gaganjeet Singh. You won't believe that IMDb has given the rating of 8.5 out of 10. The story of this series is of Raghav Sharma (Ishwak). He has done his MBA and lives in Mumbai with his girlfriend. One day, he gets a call that his grandfather has passed away in the village. As soon as he reaches there, he goes down memory lane, the moments he enjoyed with his family. Then he comes to know that his grandmother has a loan of 15 lakh, which she wanted to repay by farming. When he goes to pay the loan, the bank officer calls his grandfather a defaulter. Amid all the chaos, he learns about farming and starts understanding farming by living in the village. The series shows real struggles, tiredness, daily challenges, and how farmers silently keep fighting. This series is full of love, courage and positivity of loved ones. You must watch it. It is the number one trending show on Amazon MX Player.
Hindustan Times
14-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hindustan Times
Shruti Sharma returns to Telugu cinema with Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya director, calls it 'a reunion'
Shruti Sharma made her regional film debut with Telugu cinema in 2019 film Agent Sai Srinivasa Athreya. The actor now tells us, that after 6 years she has signed her second project with the directors of her Telugu film, Swaroop R. S. J. and calls it a homecoming in more ways than one. Shruti Sharma Expressing her excitement, Shruti tells us, 'I've worked in Telugu cinema before, and now I'm back — with the same team, same director, same production house. It's like a reunion with purpose. As an actor, I get to explore various roles in not just Hindi projects but across mediums and languages.' She further adds, 'This comeback is special. It feels like going back to where it all started — but this time with more strength, more stories, and more love.' The actor, who was seen in the recently released web series Mitti, says that the waiting period is the hardest and often leads to self doubt especially when you are offered great daily TV shows. Shruti's showbiz journey began with TV reality show India's Next Superstars (2018) and she made her television debut with Gathbandhan in 2019. The actor has been a part of handful of show until end of 2020, after which she choose to focus on films and OTT. While web projects are on her mind, she mentions how there were days when she had major self doubt and wanted to pick a project out of the many TV shows she was being offered. Shruti says, 'There was a phase when I had to say no to really good offers on TV because I was transitioning,' she recalls. 'There were days I cried thinking I was making a mistake. But my mom and brother told me to stay patient. And I did and it has started paying off in the best way.' Shruti, who also featured in filmmaker Sanjay Leela Bhansali's acclaimed series Heeramandi, further adds, 'I was in Vietnam and Thailand when people who met me said they had seen my work in Heeramandi. That's a blessing. And now, I am also a part of Heeramandi 2.' Shruti pinpoints, that auditioning never stops. "It never stops, it never did for me. One show doesn't make or break it. Even after Heeramandi's success, I had to audition for other roles. That's the reality of the industry.' As she steps back into the Telugu industry, Shruti carries with her not just talent, but a mix of experience, resilience, and an unshakable sense of self.
Time of India
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Mitti Ek Nayi Pehchaan OTT release date: When and where to watch Ishwak Singh's web series
Mitti Ek Nayi Pehchaan OTT release date: Mitti Ek Nayi Pehchaan, featuring Ishwak Singh, is set to make its debut on OTT soon. Rooted in the heart of rural India, this stirring tale follows a man's emotional journey through grief, courage, and self-discovery, highlighting the profound and unbreakable bond he shares with his homeland. Here's all you need to know about the drama series before it drops on OTT. Mitti Ek Nayi Pehchaan OTT release date Mitti Ek Nayi Pehchaan will be released on MX Player on 10th July 2025. What to expect from Mitti Ek Nayi Pehchaan ? As per the streaming service, Mitti is a heartfelt narrative set in rural India that beautifully explores themes of grief, resilience, and rediscovery, all anchored by the enduring bond between a man and his roots. Featuring a talented cast—Ishwak Singh, Shruti Sharma, Diksha Juneja, Yogendra Tiku, and Alka Amin—this slice-of-life drama tells the story of Raghav, a successful advertising executive whose life takes an unexpected turn when he returns to the village he once called home. What begins as a journey to say goodbye to his beloved grandfather slowly unfolds into a path of self-reflection and reconnection with the people and land he had left behind. At its heart, the series is a tribute to rural India, gently reminding us that no matter how far we travel, it is the mitti beneath our feet that truly defines who we are. Meet the crew Produced by Akash Chawla and Arunava Joy Sengupta under the banner of FreshLime Films, Mitti: Ek Nayi Pehchaan is helmed by directors Gaganjeet Singh and Alok Kumar Dwivedi. The screenplay and dialogues are penned by Nikhil Sachan.
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Time of India
Dating app contact dupes ad agency owner out of 13.3L
Rajkot: The owner of a Rajkot advertising agency was cheated out of Rs 13.30 lakh after being lured by a woman he met on a dating app to 'invest' on a foreign exchange (forex) trading platform. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now He filed a complaint at Rajkot police station against five unknown persons — whose bank accounts he transferred funds to. Virpariya said he came across one Shruti Sharma through an automatic friend suggestion on a dating app. They began communicating online and shared personal details. On learning of his financial difficulties, she advised him to try forex trading, saying it would yield high returns. Despite having no knowledge of forex trading, Virpariya trusted her and followed her instructions. He was directed to join a Telegram group and open an account on a certain trading website. Between Jan and March, he transferred Rs 13.30 lakh from both his personal and his firm's accounts. When he later asked about his returns and attempted to withdraw funds, his account on the platform was deleted. All the people he was in contact with became unreachable. Virpariya then contacted the cybercrime helpline with an application in March. After a preliminary inquiry, Rajkot Cyber Crime police registered an FIR on Friday and launched an investigation.
