BJP deporting 5,000 undocumented Bangladeshis
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- West Bengal set up holding centers for undocumented Bangladeshis and Rohingyas awaiting verification and deportation after the BJP's election win.
- Suvendu Adhikari reported that about 4,800 undocumented Bangladeshis have already been sent across the border, with 836 still in custody.
- Amit Shah announced the government will make the Bangladesh and Pakistan borders "impenetrable" and pursue a "detect, delete and deport" campaign against illegal infiltration.
- Bangladesh Foreign Ministry called India's deportations "unacceptable" and demanded that only individuals confirmed as Bangladeshi citizens be repatriated through proper channels.
- Harsh Mander warned that without due process safeguards, the risk of wrongful expulsion of Indian citizens, especially Bengali‑speaking Muslims, rises sharply.
- Sagarika Ghose urged that deportations must follow legal procedures and respect citizens' rights, warning against using them as a tool for communal politics.
- Sreeradha Datta described the deportations as an "avoidable bilateral irritant" and suggested a cooperative verification process with Bangladesh to reduce diplomatic friction.
Why it matters: The BJP gains political capital by delivering on its immigration pledge, while Bangladesh risks strained ties and human‑rights advocates warn that Indian citizens, particularly Bengali‑speaking Muslims, could be wrongly expelled without due process. The crackdown also tests West Bengal’s border enforcement capacity, exposing legal challenges that could undermine the rule of law and heighten social tension in border districts.
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