Details
Raju Vernekar..
vernekar.raj@gmail.com
“While the topics of CAA and NRC have stirred the country, most of the Bangladeshi maid servants working in and around Navi Mumbai have proceeded on long leave to go to their native places.”
“According to information, these people originally from Bangladesh, had migrated to Navi Mumbai from Eastern states like West Bengal, Assam and Odisha, a few years back and have been working in different households. However they do not possess basic documents like Aadhar card to prove their nationality and due to a fear psychosis, now they are rushing back to their “native places” in the hope of getting basic documents.”
“A housewife residing in an NRA Complex in Seawood said that her maid had been receiving constant phone calls from her native place to return home for the last few days, and now all of a sudden she has stopped coming to work and her phone has also been switched off. Another housewife said that her maid servant has proceeded on a month long leave with a request that she be employed back, when she returns.”
“Most of the Bengali-speaking Muslim from a border town in West Bengal in large number have been working at Digha, Rabale, Turbhe, Shirvane, Vashi, Karave and adjoining areas right up to Panvel for the last few years. Since they are prepared to work on low salary, they are given a preference by local populace. For example if a local maid demanded Rs 700 to Rs 800 per month for domestic work like washing clothes, cleaning utensils, rearing children etc, these Bangladeshi maids are prepared to work for the salary as low as Rs 500-Rs 600 per month. They also found it easy to get rented accommodation in the villages adjoining Navi Mumbai at cheaper rates.”
“The waves of fears have also affected hundreds of Bengali-speaking people living in Mumbai. The stretch between Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus and Wadala, which is known as the “harbour railway route”, has metamorphosed into contiguous, larger settlements for Bengali-origin Muslim migrants who have moved to Mumbai for work.”
“The raids are periodically carried out across Mumbai, Navi Mumbai and the adjoining Thane district, as a concerted exercise between the local police and the intelligence bureau of the state CID. As per the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data, around 245 cases were registered in Maharashtra alone between 2014 and 2016, while according to the Union Ministry of Home affairs, as many as 1,770 “Bangladeshi nationals” were deported by India, between 2015 and March 2018.”
“The recent arrests of illegal immigrants include: 14 March 2018-Panvel- (5 Bangladeshis arrested), 17 March 2018-Pune-(three Bangladeshis, 2 Pakistanis arrested), 17 November 2019-Dhakta Khanda (Panvel)- (10 Bangladeshis arrested), 14 December 2019-Arnala(Virar)-(7 Bangladeshis arrested) and16 December 2019-Nalasopara-(12 Bangladeshis arrested).”
“While the Foreigners Act and the Passport Act apply to foreign nationals entering and residing in India without proper legal documentation, the Maharashtra has been seen using it primarily against illegal immigrants who crossed over from Bangladesh from 1990s onwards. The arrested persons are tried in a special court located in South Mumbai.”
“In the meanwhile the state government’s plan to set up an Assam-like detention centre in Nerul, in Navi Mumbai, to deal with illegal immigrants is expected to be shelved following Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray’s assurance to Muslim leaders that no such centre will be set up in Maharashtra. Based on the direction of the Union Home Ministry, the former Devendra Fadnavis government had identified a plot to set up the detention centre to accommodate at least inmates.”
