Kolkata, 1 September (H.S.).

The Indian Army on Monday dismantled the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) ‘Language Movement’ stage at Dharmatala, citing expiry of permission. According to the Army, approval had been granted only until August 31, and action was taken once the stipulated time frame had lapsed.

The development comes amid heightened political tensions over linguistic identity in West Bengal. Allegations have surfaced that Bengali-speaking migrants in other states are being harassed and branded as ‘Bangladeshis’. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has led protest rallies in Kolkata, Bolpur, Jhargram, and other districts against such incidents.

To support migrant workers, the state government recently launched the Shramashree scheme. As part of this campaign, TMC leaders, under Banerjee’s direction, have been staging a relay sit-in twice a week near the Gandhi statue at Dharmatala, where the ‘Language Movement’ stage had been erected.

On Monday, Army personnel abruptly moved in and removed the stage along with its tarpaulin structure. Defence spokesperson Wing Commander Himanshu Tiwari said the permission was valid only until August 31 and stressed that there was no justification for occupying a sensitive defence area beyond the allotted period.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh