Odisha Law Minister Prithiviraj Harichandan issued a stern warning to alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators residing illegally in the State, saying the government has already initiated steps to identify and remove them. The Minister stated on Wednesday that departments are actively working under the direction of the Chief Minister to tackle the issue.

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The Opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD), however, dismissed the concern as a “minor issue” and accused the government of unnecessarily magnifying the matter for political attention.

Odisha government has intensified its stand against alleged illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators in the State, with Law Minister Harichandan warning that strict action will continue in the coming days. According to the minister, the State administration has already identified and deported several infiltrators during the previous year, and further operations are underway.

Harichandan said the State government is functioning under the direct instruction of the Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi and that there will be “no escape” for individuals found living illegally in Odisha. He stressed that the administration is committed to protecting the State’s security and maintaining proper legal procedures regarding foreign nationals residing without authorisation.

“Odisha government is quite alert in this regard. We have already started the identification process since last year. Acting on the Chief Minister’s directive, the officials of state Home Department have given emphasis to it. Several illegal Bangladeshis have been deported in the past, and the drive will continue in the days ahead,” the Law Minister said.

The Minister’s remarks have triggered a political debate in the State, with the Opposition BJD questioning the seriousness of the issue. BJD leaders argued that the government is exaggerating isolated incidents and turning a minor matter into a major controversy.

According to the party, the number of alleged Bangladeshi infiltrators identified in Odisha is negligible compared to the State’s population of more than 45 million people. BJD leaders claimed that the State government is attempting to divert public attention from its own shortcomings by highlighting a relatively small issue.

The party further pointed out that neighbouring West Bengal reportedly has a much larger number of Bangladeshi migrants, while Odisha has only identified a very limited number of such individuals. BJD maintained that the matter should not become a major political or public concern and described it as a “small issue” rather than a serious threat to the State.

The issue is now likely to remain a key point of political confrontation between the ruling party and the Opposition in Odisha, especially as debates around border security, migration, and internal administration continue to gain national attention.