KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Tuesday urged authorities to expedite the deportation of alleged illegal Bangladeshi immigrants, warning that the state would take strict action against those who remain.
Speaking after an administrative meeting in Kalyani, Adhikari claimed a large crowd of undocumented Bangladeshi nationals had gathered at the Hakimpur checkpoint in North 24 Parganas district, reportedly willing to return home.
“Quickly leave, otherwise the government will take necessary action,” Adhikari said, according to the Press Trust of India. He added that the state would no longer waste public funds housing them in jails, accusing past leaders of ignoring immigration laws for “vote bank” politics.
The comments come amid the state’s new “detect, delete and deport” policy. The government has ordered all districts to set up temporary holding centres for detained foreigners awaiting deportation. Malda district has already operationalised the first facility, currently housing nine suspected Bangladeshi nationals.
Adhikari stated that individuals outside the purview of the Citizenship Amendment Act would be bypassed through prolonged legal channels and handed directly to the Border Security Force.
The regional crackdown aligns with federal initiatives. Union Home Minister Amit Shah recently announced a high-level committee to investigate demographic changes, warning on social media platform X that infiltration poses a significant challenge to the nation.
