Kolkata, 3 September (H.S.): The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a special outreach campaign ahead of the upcoming festive season, beginning with Durga Puja. Under this initiative, senior leaders of the West Bengal BJP will tour different states across the country to directly engage with Bengali-speaking migrant workers.

The move comes in response to allegations by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), which has repeatedly claimed that migrant Bengalis face discrimination and harassment in BJP-ruled states. Party strategists believe that direct interaction with migrants will help present the “real picture” and counter the narrative pushed by the ruling party in West Bengal.

According to party sources, 27 senior leaders—including MPs and MLAs—have been shortlisted for the initial phase of the program. These leaders will travel to different states during Durga Puja and other major festivals, interacting with migrant workers to document their employment conditions, income levels, and lived experiences. If required, the delegation size may be expanded further.

Through this campaign, the BJP also intends to understand the key reasons that compel migrant workers to leave their families and homes in Bengal in search of livelihood elsewhere. The leaders will seek feedback on whether comparable wages could be earned in Bengal, the income gap between Bengal and other states, and whether migrants have ever faced workplace or administrative discrimination on linguistic grounds.

Meanwhile, on Monday—the opening day of the special session of the West Bengal Assembly—the issue of alleged harassment of Bengali migrant workers was prominently raised. A motion was tabled in the House, focusing on the treatment of migrants, particularly in BJP-governed states.

The BJP leadership has maintained that the outreach will not only serve as a political rebuttal to TMC’s charges but will also culminate in a comprehensive report highlighting the actual experiences of Bengali migrant workers across the country.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh