West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari warned illegal Bangladeshi immigrants to leave the state immediately and called for expedited deportation processes [1, 2].
This move signals a shift toward more aggressive immigration enforcement in the region. By prioritizing immediate deportation over detention, the state administration aims to reduce the financial burden on public funds used to maintain undocumented individuals in custody [1].
Speaking at the Hakimpur border checkpoint with Bangladesh, Adhikari said to undocumented immigrants, "Jaldi, jaldi bhaago" [2]. He said, "Jaldi jaldi bhago nahi toh…" [2].
Adhikari said the state government would not keep illegal immigrants in detention centers. He said that the administration would not spend public funds on the upkeep of those who have entered the country illegally [1, 2].
The Chief Minister urged authorities to speed up the process of sending these individuals back to Bangladesh [2]. This approach focuses on clearing the undocumented population through direct removal rather than long-term legal processing within the state's penal, or detention, systems [1].
Officials at the Hakimpur border are now tasked with managing the logistics of this directive. The emphasis remains on rapid movement across the border to ensure that the state does not incur costs associated with the housing and feeding of deported nationals [2].
“"Jaldi, jaldi bhaago."”
The directive reflects a policy of deterrence and fiscal conservation. By framing deportation as a preferred alternative to detention, the West Bengal government is attempting to incentivize voluntary departure while reducing the state's operational costs for immigrant housing. This approach emphasizes border security and immediate repatriation over the slower, more costly process of judicial detention.
