BHUBANESWAR: A political controversy erupted in Odisha on Wednesday after the state government intensified its stand against alleged illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators, while the Opposition Biju Janata Dal dismissed the issue as “minor” and accused the ruling dispensation of politicising the matter.
Odisha law minister Prithiviraj Harichandan issued a stern warning to foreign nationals allegedly residing illegally in the State, asserting that the government has already initiated a statewide identification and deportation drive under the direction of Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi.
Speaking to reporters, Harichandan said the state administration had begun the identification process last year and several alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators had already been deported. He maintained that the government would continue its crackdown in the interest of state security and legal enforcement.
“Odisha government is quite alert in this regard. We have already started the identification process since last year. Acting on the Chief Minister’s directive, officials of the Home Department have given emphasis to it. Several illegal Bangladeshis have been deported in the past, and the drive will continue in the days ahead,” the minister said.
Harichandan further warned that there would be “no escape” for individuals found residing illegally in Odisha and stressed that the administration was committed to maintaining strict vigilance over unauthorised foreign nationals.
The minister’s remarks, however, triggered sharp reactions from the Opposition BJD, which accused the BJP-led government of exaggerating isolated incidents to divert public attention from governance-related issues.
Senior BJD leaders argued that the number of alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators identified in Odisha was negligible compared to the state’s population of over 4.5 crore. The party claimed the issue was being unnecessarily projected as a major security concern for political mileage.
The BJD also pointed out that neighbouring states such as West Bengal reportedly face a much larger challenge related to undocumented migrants, while Odisha has detected only a limited number of such cases.
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