NEW DELHI – India’s ruling Hindu-nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has issued a directive to establish detention centers for undocumented Bangladeshis and Rohingya Muslims in the state of West Bengal, stirring apprehension among minority communities about potential arbitrary deportations. This move comes shortly after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party secured power in the eastern state for the first time since India’s independence in 1947.
Government's Stance on Illegal Migration
The order instructs local authorities to set up “holding centers” for “apprehended foreigners” awaiting deportation, as part of a broader crackdown on illegal immigration. The government defends its “detect, delete, deport” principle, asserting that those targeted are migrants residing illegally in the country. “Illegal migration has security and socio-economic ramifications which are often well beyond law enforcement,” read the order issued last week.
Impact on Muslim Population
The decision has heightened anxiety among West Bengal’s approximately 35 million Muslims, many of whom share linguistic and cultural ties with neighboring Bangladesh. Critics argue that the measure reflects the government’s longstanding hardline stance on immigration, with top BJP members previously referring to Bangladeshi migrants as “termites” and “infiltrators.” The party has pursued similar policies in the neighboring state of Assam, where it has overseen extensive identification drives and large-scale detentions.
Concerns Over Due Process
Rights activists report that hundreds of individuals have been deported to Bangladesh from Assam without due legal process, often based on ethnic profiling. Many have allegedly been pushed across the border at gunpoint, according to activists and lawyers who have challenged these measures in court. They contend that the policies disproportionately affect the Muslim population by conflating religious identity with illegal migration.
Reactions to Planned Centers
The planned centers in West Bengal have drawn particular concern due to the state’s porous border with Bangladesh and its long history of migration. The inclusion of Rohingya refugees in the order has also attracted criticism. India has previously been accused by humanitarian groups of forcibly returning Rohingya to Myanmar, despite ongoing conflict there, potentially violating international norms on refugee protection.
Additional Legislation
Adding to the unease among Muslims, the BJP-led government in Assam introduced legislation on Monday to amend personal religious laws, which critics say could further marginalize minorities.
