Kolkata, 22 July (H.S.) -
The West Bengal government is likely to convene a special session of the state assembly in August to address the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states. According to government sources, the session is expected to be held sometime between August 8 and August 21, during which a resolution on the matter could be tabled.
A senior official in the state’s parliamentary affairs department confirmed on Tuesday that, in addition to the resolution, up to four new bills may also be introduced during the session. However, he clarified that the final blueprint of the session and the resolution is still under preparation. Once complete, it will be submitted to Speaker Biman Banerjee for approval.
Sources within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) said that the party aims to formally record its stance on the treatment of Bengalis in BJP-ruled states through legislative proceedings. The decision to call a special session is reportedly part of a broader political strategy.
In parallel with the proposed assembly session, the ruling TMC also plans to intensify its public outreach. A senior cabinet minister, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said the party will hold statewide protests every weekend to bring the issue to the forefront of public discourse. “This campaign will be conducted both inside and outside the assembly,” he said.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had announced this movement on Monday during the party's annual ‘Shahid Diwas’ (Martyrs’ Day) rally at Dharmatala in Kolkata. She stated that starting from July 27, protests would be held across the state every weekend. Banerjee likened the campaign to a modern-day language movement.
The reference to the language movement draws from the historical struggle in former East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), where a major agitation was held to recognize Bengali as an official language—a movement that ultimately became one of the foundations for the creation of Bangladesh.
The announcement has drawn sharp criticism from the opposition. Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, speaking before leaving for New Delhi on Tuesday, accused the Chief Minister of attempting to portray herself as the protector of Bengali language and culture in order to deflect attention from the growing public dissatisfaction with her government.
The political temperature in the state is expected to rise further as the TMC proceeds with its legislative and public mobilization plans in the coming weeks.
Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh
