Bhubaneswar: Odisha BJP president Manmohan Samal on Sunday dismissed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s allegation that Bengali-speaking people are facing violence and harassment in BJP-ruled states, asserting that the charge is baseless and politically motivated.
Reacting to Banerjee’s statement, Samal said there was no substance to the claim that Bengali-speaking people were being targeted. He also appealed to political leaders to refrain from politicising the recent killing of a migrant worker from West Bengal in Odisha.
Referring to the incident in Sambalpur, the state BJP chief said the focus should remain on preventing such incidents in the future and ensuring adequate assistance to the victim’s family, rather than indulging in political debates over the tragedy.
A 30-year-old migrant worker, Jewel Rana, a native of the Jangipur area in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, was allegedly killed in Sambalpur on Wednesday following an altercation over a bidi, police sources said.
Meanwhile, a three-member team of the West Bengal Police reached Ainthapalli Police Station in Sambalpur on Sunday to coordinate with the local police in connection with the investigation.
On Saturday, Banerjee had stated that a “zero FIR” had been registered at the Suti Police Station in Murshidabad in connection with the killing. A zero FIR can be registered at any police station irrespective of jurisdiction, particularly when immediate action is required.
Responding to allegations of torture or harassment of migrant workers, Samal said strict and prompt action is taken against those involved in such crimes.
“Whether in Odisha, West Bengal, anywhere in the country or even abroad, perpetrators of crime must be dealt with firmly,” he added.
