Kolkata, 16 July (H.S.) -
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Trinamool Congress (TMC) national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee led a massive protest rally in Kolkata on Wednesday, alleging systematic harassment of Bengali-speaking people in several Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-governed states. The march, which began at College Square and culminated at Dorina Crossing, was followed by a large public meeting at Dharmatala, where Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the Centre.
Addressing the gathering, Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP-led central government of discriminating against Bengalis based on language. She claimed that Bengali speakers are being detained under suspicion, citing an alleged central notification that instructs authorities to treat Bengali-speaking individuals as suspects and detain them in camps.
“Is speaking Bengali now a crime?” Banerjee asked. “Has the BJP become the zamindar of this country that they are sending anyone to jail at will? People possess Aadhaar and PAN cards, yet they are being branded as Rohingyas or Bangladeshis and put into detention camps,” she said.
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Allegations of Harassment Across States
Banerjee further claimed that nearly 2.2 million migrant workers from West Bengal working in other states are facing similar harassment. She alleged that members of the Matua community in Maharashtra have been targeted, and that in Delhi, water and electricity supplies to Bengali households have been deliberately cut off.
She also mentioned that people from West Bengal's Nadia district were allegedly held hostage in Chhattisgarh. We welcome outsiders with respect in our state. But when our people go to other states, they are insulted, jailed, and their family members are also picked up,” Banerjee said.
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“Legal Fight Ahead,” Says CM
Issuing a stern warning to the central government, Banerjee vowed to fight back. “We will not remain silent. We will challenge this in court. We will fight for every inch of our land and every citizen of Bengal,” she declared.
Referring to alleged voter suppression in Bihar, Banerjee claimed that 3.05 million votes were scrapped, and accused the BJP of using similar tactics to win elections in Maharashtra and Delhi. “Now they are targeting Bengal and Bihar. But we won’t allow it,” she said.
She questioned the motive behind this alleged campaign of exclusion, asking, “Why so much hatred against Bengalis? What have they done? Rabindranath Tagore wrote the national anthems of both India and Bangladesh. It was a Bengali poet who united the nation.”
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Flood Situation and Urban Development
During her speech, Banerjee also addressed the ongoing flood crisis in the state. She blamed the release of 27,000 million cubic meters of water from DVC and Panchet dams for flooding in districts such as Bankura, Paschim Medinipur, Jhargram, Bardhaman, Howrah, Hooghly, and both North and South 24 Parganas.
She assured that the state government stands with the affected people and is working on long-term solutions. On urban infrastructure, Banerjee claimed that 99 percent of Kolkata's waterlogging issues have been resolved and that remaining work will be completed by 2026.
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Call for Mass Participation on July 21
Concluding her address, Banerjee urged all supporters to attend the party’s annual Martyrs’ Day rally on July 21, hinting at major announcements to come. “I won’t say everything today. Come on July 21, I will speak then,” she said.
Despite intermittent rain, a large number of TMC supporters lined the streets for the rally. Over 1,500 police personnel were deployed to maintain security and ensure smooth conduct of the event.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
