Banerjee’s statement, posted on X, said she was “deeply disturbed by the alarming news of harassment emerging from Jai Hind Colony in Vasant Kunj”—a settlement housing mainly Bengali domestic and sanitation workers. She alleged that water supply had been cut, private water tankers blocked by Delhi Police and RAF, and electricity meters confiscated before power was abruptly shut off.
The Chief Minister accused the BJP‑led Delhi administration of executing a forced eviction despite the location being under judicial scrutiny, noting that a similar action took place in December. She questioned how such denial of shelter, water and electricity could occur in a democratic republic.
Banerjee framed the eviction as part of a broader, systematic assault on Bengali‑speaking communities across BJP‑ruled states—citing Gujarat, Maharashtra, Odisha and Madhya Pradesh—stating that “speaking Bengali does not make one Bangladeshi”. She declared unwavering support for over 1.5 crore migrant workers from Bengal living with dignity across India.
Her remarks ignited a sharp rebuttal from BJP IT Cell chief Amit Malviya, who said the action followed court orders, countering claims of human rights violations. He accused Mamata of equating genuine Indian residents with illegal migrants using fraudulent documents issued from 24‑Parganas, and asserted that 26 “illegal Bangladeshis” were identified recently in the colony.
Political discourse around the event included pointed cultural jabs. A BJP spokesperson made a playful dig: if Delhi labels Bengali speakers as Bangladeshis, "golgappa vs phuchka" becomes a symbolic battle. The official noted that while Tamil Nadu and Kerala have identified many alleged infiltrators, there was no uproar—implying selective outrage.
The flashpoint follows habeas corpus petitions in Calcutta High Court over the detention of six workers—three of them minors—arrested in Delhi in June, labelled as Bangladeshi by the police, and reportedly deported to Bangladesh by the Border Security Force.
MP Manoj Jha condemned the cuts to power and water, and the blocking of private tankers, regarding the actions as violations of democratic governance. He highlighted the plight of vulnerable communities—many of them Bengali Muslims—caught in identity verification drives.
Analysts point to a deepening political narrative. For the TMC and Banerjee, the incident is emblematic of perceived xenophobia targeting Bengalis; for the BJP, it underscores systematic enforcement of court rulings to curtail illegal settlements. Both sides are harnessing this incident to reinforce wider national narratives on migration, identity and civic rights.
Legal proceedings are ongoing: Delhi Police maintain that the colony was unauthorised, and land regularisation is under judicial review. Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress plans to raise the matter through parliamentary forums and legal platforms, pledging heightened vigilance on the treatment of Bengali‑speaking citizens.