Kolkata, Sep 10 (NationPress) Prominent Congress figure and former MP Adhir Chowdhury met with President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday, voicing his concerns regarding the harassment faced by Bengali migrant workers across various states.

In a bid to seek her intervention, Chowdhury claimed that Bengali individuals in different regions are being targeted and that many Bengali-speaking migrants are wrongfully labeled as 'Bangladeshi'.

During the meeting, which lasted approximately 40 minutes, he presented a detailed two-page memorandum to the President. Following their discussion, Chowdhury expressed that the President assured him she would address the issue. He shared that he had spoken to Bengali migrant workers in Panipat, Haryana, who have experienced harassment.

"It is vital to guarantee the freedom and safety of Bengali migrants in other states. This matter should be prominently discussed at the state level. I plan to meet with the Governor of Bengal soon to further discuss this urgent issue," Chowdhury stated after his meeting with the President.

In his memorandum, Chowdhury emphasized, "As you may know, numerous reports have been received from various organizations, including Civil and Human Rights groups, highlighting the troubling and alarming reality of countless incidents of harassment, humiliation, threats, illegal detentions, and even physical abuse faced by Bengali migrant workers. These individuals, who are struggling to earn a living as daily wage laborers in low-paying, unskilled, and semi-skilled jobs throughout the nation, are facing serious injustices."

He added that the physical attributes, cultural practices, and language of these migrant workers, who are legitimate Indian citizens, are being misused as a justification for their harassment and mistreatment.

“Officials from concerned state governments often fail to understand the distinction between 'BANGLABHASI' from West Bengal and 'BANGLADESHI' from the neighboring nation, BANGLADESH.

Chowdhury also called upon the President to demand a report from the government regarding the ongoing crackdown on Bengali-speaking migrant laborers, urging that appropriate measures be taken to ensure legal processes are adhered to when identifying “illegal immigrants” in different states.

“It is imperative to take every necessary step to protect innocent Bengali-speaking individuals, who are legitimate Indian nationals working across the nation, from ongoing humiliation, harassment, torture, loss of livelihood, and the fear of deportation from their rightful home,” he asserted.

The senior Congress leader expressed his hope for President Murmu's timely intervention to alleviate the suffering of these innocent individuals.