Amartya Sen Criticizes Detention of Bengal Migrant Workers in Other States

Speedy Summary:

• Nobel laureate Amartya Sen criticized the detention of Bengali-speaking migrant workers from West Bengal in states like Maharashtra,Gujarat,Odisha,and Delhi on suspicion of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
• Sen emphasized the importance of Bengali language heritage and its ancient contributions by figures such as Rabindranath Tagore and Nazrul Islam.
• He stated that India, as a democratic nation, should oppose any mistreatment or neglect of its citizens regardless of their state.
• Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of targeting Bengali-speaking individuals for political motives ahead of West Bengal’s 2026 assembly elections.
• The Trinamool Congress initiated a year-long campaign called Bhasha Andolan (language movement) to address concerns about voter profiling along linguistic lines.

!Nobel laureate economist amartya Sen (HT FILE PHOTO/Samir Jana)

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Indian Opinion Analysis:

The issue at hand highlights tension over regional identity and linguistic bias within India’s internal migration framework. Nobel laureate Amartya Sen’s remarks on this situation emphasize global democratic values that discourage discriminatory practices across states. His focus on Bengali cultural heritage underscores the broader importance of preserving diversity while discouraging profiling based solely on language.Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s allegations against BJP further politicize these detentions amid upcoming elections. If valid, claims associating linguistic targeting with electoral strategies raise questions regarding voter disenfranchisement in India-a democracy with vast ethnic plurality. The launch of TMC’s “Bhasha Andolan” reflects efforts to unite public sentiment around preserving linguistic pride while addressing socio-political grievances.

This scenario signifies pressing challenges for national integration: reconciling regional identities with migration policies while safeguarding constitutional liberties against discrimination.