New Delhi – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has strongly condemned the BJP-led Delhi government, accusing it of orchestrating a systematic campaign to forcibly evict and harass Bengali-speaking migrant workers living in the Jai Hind Camp settlement in Vasant Kunj. She described the actions as “targeted persecution,” asserting that residents—long-time Indian citizens—are being unfairly labelled as “infiltrators” or “Bangladeshis.”, reported the Times of India.
Banerjee raised alarm over the abrupt disconnection of water and electricity supplies in the densely populated colony, calling it a blatant violation of basic human rights. She alleged that electricity meters were confiscated without warning, and private water tankers arranged by residents were blocked by Delhi Police and Rapid Action Force personnel .
Though the matter is currently sub judice, there have been ongoing reports of forced evictions, echoing a similar crackdown in December. The Delhi High Court previously ordered the demolition of structures in Jai Hind Colony, which houses over 1,400 families—many of whom migrated from West Bengal and Assam decades ago. Authorities have labelled the settlement illegal and alleged the presence of undocumented individuals—a claim residents vehemently deny .
One resident, Ayuddin Hussain, a driver, said: “We are Indians, not Bangladeshis…They just came with police and CRPF and cut off our electricity without even informing us” . Fatima, a widow caring for sick family members, and Rashida, a long-time domestic worker, voiced their heartbreak and uncertainty about where to go after decades in the camp .
Banerjee also expressed concern for vulnerable community members—pregnant women, elderly individuals, and children—who have been left without power, water, or adequate shelter. Some have had to rely on relatives or sleep outdoors, while others congregate at mosques or temples to charge phones .
RJD MP Manoj Jha condemned the move as undemocratic and in violation of due legal process. He affirmed that the colony’s residents underwent document verification in December, yet eviction proceedings continue .
Mamata Banerjee vowed to raise the issue in every available forum, declaring: “Speaking Bengali does not make one Bangladeshi… We will not remain silent while our own citizens are branded as trespassers in their own country” .
Civil rights organizations and minority advocacy groups have voiced solidarity, framing the incident as part of a concerning pattern of communal bias and exclusion. Banerjee further critiqued the wider BJP-led “anti‑Bengali agenda” spreading across states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh .
