Odisha Government Warns Illegals: BJP vs BJD Clash
In Odisha, political tensions escalate over alleged Bangladeshi infiltrations, with the BJP warning against illegal residents while BJD terming it a minor issue. Both sides have different perspectives on how to handle unauthorized foreign nationals based in the state.
Highlights
- •Odisha government initiates identification and deportation drive of illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators
- •BJP minister issues stern warning against illegal foreign residents
- •BJD opposes BJP's approach, brands it as exaggerated for political mileage
- •State population of over 4.5 crore with few reported cases of unauthorised immigrants
Bhubaneswar, India: The political landscape in Odisha intensified this week after the state government issued a strict warning to alleged illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators. Meanwhile, opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) party branded the issue as 'minor' and accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led administration of politicizing the matter.
Odisha Takes Action: Identification and Deportation
The Odisha Law Minister, Prithiviraj Harichandan, emphasized that the government has launched a statewide identification drive against unauthorized foreign residents. This initiative follows Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi's directives to ensure state security. Harichandan confirmed that the process began last year and several individuals deemed illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators have already been deported.
Harichandan stated, 'The Odisha government is very alert in this regard. Since the beginning of last year, we have adopted measures to address this issue based on our chief minister's directive. This process will continue and not only aim for identification but also facilitate deportations.'
The minister stressed that strict vigilance would be maintained over unauthorized foreign nationals who reside illegally in Odisha.
While the government took decisive action, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faced criticism from BJD leaders. The opposition party accused the ruling BJP of exaggerating isolated incidents to focus attention away from governance problems.
Divergent Perspectives on the Issue
BJD senior leaders argued that the scale of the issue is negligible compared to Odisha's population of over 4.5 crore. They maintained that this matter has been overly sensationalized as a political tool, while highlighting similar challenges in bordering states like West Bengal.
According to BJD sources, even though there have been reports of identified illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators, they represent only a limited portion of the state population. Consequently, the party contends that this issue has not justified its portrayal as a major security concern.
