The latest viral street interviews reveal a troubling reality in West Bengal. Individuals who openly identify as Bangladeshi describe how they entered the country, obtained documents, and became part of Bengal’s social and economic landscape. This is no longer a fringe allegation. It is a systemic failure that has persisted for more than a decade. We had earlier reported on how Bangladeshis are pouring into India, this time the people who crossed over are admitting that they did, on camera.
Clear Admission: “I Am Not Indian”
In the first viral clip between 1:32 and 1:42, a woman calmly states, “I am not Indian.” She identifies herself as a Bangladeshi Muslim woman.
This is not a whisper from an anonymous source. It is an admission given openly on camera. There is no fear of legal consequences because the ground reality in Bengal has created a comfort zone. Citizenship has stopped being a legal status and has become a negotiable identity for anyone who manages to navigate the state’s fractured documentation ecosystem.
Aadhaar Without Voter ID: A Bureaucratic Gap
Between 2:00 and 2:12, another individual says she has an Aadhaar card but no voter card. She also identifies herself as Bangladeshi.
Aadhaar is not proof of citizenship. Yet in Bengal, it functions as one because the state administration treats it as a de facto citizenship document. This gap allows non-citizens to access welfare, utilities and local networks. It also raises a serious question. How does the administration verify beneficiaries when the most basic citizenship filter is not applied?
Illegal Entry Normalised on Camera
At the 3:16 to 3:29 timestamp, another woman says her home is in Jessore and that she entered India through an illegal route.
She describes this the way a local might describe taking a shortcut through a field. Bengal’s 2216 kilometre border with Bangladesh is porous and difficult to police. However, the complete breakdown of deterrence after 2011 created conditions where illegal entry became casual and routine. The border became less of a boundary and more of an entry point.
A Timeline That Raises Hard Questions
Around the 9:20 to 9:25 mark, a migrant admits she came to India 10 to 12 years ago. This places her arrival between 2013 and 2015.
This period overlaps fully with the early years of the Trinamool Congress government. Opposition parties have long alleged that migrant inflows increased during this time because enforcement was relaxed for electoral benefit. Whether that allegation is politically motivated or grounded in fact, the state has never offered a transparent explanation for the demographic changes that occurred across border districts.
How Non Citizens Obtained Indian Documents
Between 10:30 and 10:43, the video shows how people who identify as Bangladeshi were able to secure Indian identity documents and Indian SIM cards.
A SIM card requires KYC verification. Welfare benefits require digital enrolment. Ration cards require local introduction. None of these are accidental. This raises a serious question about administrative complicity or negligence. If non citizens were able to obtain multiple Indian documents, someone inside the local system facilitated it.
The Impact on Local Employment
The most damaging revelation is not the admission of being Bangladeshi. It is the open claim that undocumented migrants found work while Bengal’s own youth continue to struggle.
Bengal has one of the highest unemployment rates among educated young people. Yet the video points to a parallel labour system that rewards undocumented workers who are cheaper, more vulnerable and easier to control. This is the direct result of governance failure and the political incentives that shaped it.
The Real Issue is Sovereignty
This debate is not about communal politics. It is about the erosion of India’s citizenship framework.
A state cannot function when:
• People admit they are not citizens with no fear of consequences
• Aadhaar is treated as citizenship
• Border enforcement collapses
• Illegal entry becomes routine
• Local documentation becomes negotiable
• Jobs are diverted to undocumented labour
This is a structural failure. It undermines sovereignty, distorts labour markets and erodes public trust in government institutions.
Bengal Deserves Better
Every election season, illegal immigration becomes a slogan. Yet the root cause remains untouched. The latest videos reveal a state where borders are flexible, documents are easily arranged and political incentives override national interest.
Regardless of political ideology, one fact is clear. Bengal cannot continue to operate in a space where citizenship itself is uncertain. A society cannot thrive when identity becomes a marketplace.
