Unveiling The Listening Post: Examining India's Deportation of Bengali Muslims
In India, a nationwide citizenship crackdown targeting Bengali-speaking Muslims has sparked widespread criticism and legal challenges. This controversial move, which has seen administrative actions such as detention, denial of citizenship, and deportation orders, has been condemned by human rights organisations as discriminatory and violating due process.
The crackdown, evolving into a constitutional crisis over citizenship rights, linguistic discrimination, and federal governance in India, has been particularly aggressive against Bengali language speakers. Notable cases include that of Banasha Bibi, a Bengali-speaking Muslim woman wrongly accused of being an illegal migrant despite having valid Indian documents. Her eventual legal recognition as an Indian citizen in 2025 underscores the traumatic and arbitrary nature of such crackdowns.
Human Rights Watch has criticised the actions, stating that Indian authorities, especially in Assam, have forcibly pushed back Bengali Muslims, including recognised Indian citizens, to Bangladesh under claims of immigration control. The Indian government, led by Narendra Modi and the BJP, defends these moves as necessary for national security and protecting local job markets against undocumented migrants. However, critics emphasise the ethnic and religious profiling implicit in these policies and warn of human rights violations.
Meanwhile, across the globe, President Donald Trump is using legal means to put pressure on US media outlets. The Wall Street Journal, owned by Rupert Murdoch, is currently being sued by Trump, a move that follows the settlement out of court between Trump and CBS. The lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal is a part of Trump's efforts to put pressure on US media outlets, a trend that has become increasingly prevalent during his presidency.
For further detailed reading and legal perspectives, sources such as Citizens for Justice and Peace, Human Rights Watch, and various news outlets provide comprehensive analysis and updates on these issues. These sources collectively provide a nuanced understanding of the citizenship crackdown on Bengali Muslims in India, presenting legal, human rights, political, and social dimensions.
[1] Sabrang India: https://sabrangindia.in/cjp-led-legal-victory-bengali-speaking-muslim-woman-with-limited-mobility-declared-indian/ [2] Citizens for Justice and Peace: https://cjp.org.in/a-targeted-campaign-the-orchestrated-crackdown-on-bengali-migrants-and-the-rising-pushback-from-courts-bengal-government-and-civil-society/ [3] Human Rights Watch: https://www.the-independent.com/asia/india/bengali-muslims-deportation-bangladesh-unlawful-hrw-b2795697.html [4] TBS News: https://www.tbsnews.net/features/panorama/dissection-rising-hostility-against-bengali-migrants-across-india-1192521
- The citizenship crackdown in India, which has been condemned for its discriminatory practices and violations of due process, has targeted Bengali-speaking Muslims, as seen in the case of Banasha Bibi.
- Human Rights Watch has criticized the Indian government for forcibly pushing back Bengali Muslims, including recognized Indian citizens, to Bangladesh, labelling it as a form of immigration control that can lead to human rights violations.
- In a global context, President Donald Trump has been utilizing legal means to exert pressure on US media outlets, a trend that mirrors the aggressive tactics used in the Indian government's war-and-conflicts-related migration policies, which have sparked general-news debate and crime-and-justice concerns.
