The Congress party in Maharashtra has launched a sharp attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of making politically charged allegations about illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants in Mumbai without possessing any official data to back its claims. The allegation stems from a revealing reply to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed with the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
RTI Query Exposes Lack of Official Data
On Friday, All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary and Maharashtra Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant presented to the media the details of an RTI reply received from the central government. The application, filed online by an associate, was addressed to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
It sought specific information regarding the total number of Bangladeshi and Rohingya nationals detained for illegally staying in Mumbai over the past three years. It also asked how many of those detained were subsequently deported.
The crucial reply from the MHA stated that the requested information was not available with its Foreigners Division and Citizenship Wing. The ministry further indicated that the data might pertain to the Bureau of Immigration in New Delhi and proceeded to transfer the application to that department.
Congress Accuses BJP of Political Polarization
Sachin Sawant seized upon this response to accuse the government of undermining the RTI law itself. He stated that the very ministry responsible for internal security and citizenship matters had no information on record, passing the application from one desk to another.
"This exposes the BJP's conspiracy," Sawant alleged. He pointed out that in the recent past, several senior BJP leaders and ministers, including Mangal Prabhat Lodha and Amit Satam, have repeatedly alleged that a large number of illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants are residing in Mumbai, posing a significant security threat.
"However, they have never provided any government data to support these serious allegations," Sawant emphasized. He accused the BJP of raising the migrant issue during every election cycle, especially since the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) polls began, with the sole aim of creating religious polarization and deepening Hindu-Muslim divisions for political gain.
Implications for Governance and Political Discourse
This development raises critical questions about the basis of political narratives surrounding migration and security. The Congress's move highlights a significant gap between public statements made by ruling party leaders and the official data maintained by their own government's key ministry.
The episode underscores the importance of the RTI Act as a tool for transparency and holding authorities accountable. It also puts the spotlight on the nature of political rhetoric, suggesting that claims made for electoral advantage may not be grounded in verifiable administrative records.
The ball is now in the court of the Bureau of Immigration to respond to the transferred RTI application. The final reply will determine whether any agency of the central government actually maintains the granular data on detention and deportation from Mumbai that has become a focal point of political contention.
