
Trinamool On Streets To Protect Infiltrators: PM's Attack On Mamata Banerjee
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday tore into the Trinamool Congress, accusing it of risking Bengal's identity and national security by promoting infiltration for vote-bank politics, and asserted that only the BJP genuinely stands for Bengali 'asmita' (identity) and the pride of Bengalis.
In a fiery address at a packed rally in Durgapur, PM Modi called for an end to what he termed a regime of "lies, lawlessness and loot."
"The Trinamool Congress (TMC), because of its vested interests, has put the identity of West Bengal at stake. For the sake of vote-bank politics, infiltration is being encouraged here. A complete ecosystem has been created to support infiltrators. This is a threat to both national security and Bengal's security and identity," PM Modi said, accusing the ruling party of "openly challenging constitutional institutions" and "defending illegal immigrants."
Amid a growing political row over alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in BJP-ruled states, PM Modi turned the tables on the TMC, declaring, "The real threat to Bengal's dignity and future comes not from outside but from within, from a state government that thrives on lies, lawlessness, and loot."
"For the BJP, Bengali 'asmita' is supreme. Wherever there is a BJP government, Bengalis are respected, Bengali language is respected," the Prime Minister said.
"We will not allow this conspiracy against Bengali 'asmita' to succeed. The BJP is the only party that truly respects it," he said.
Lashing out at the Mamata Banerjee-led government, PM Modi said the TMC's appeasement politics has "crossed all limits." "They are now on the streets to protect infiltrators. TMC's corruption and appeasement are pushing the youth out of Bengal," he added.
PM Modi also accused the TMC, Left and Congress of neglecting Bengali pride for decades.
"For years, the TMC and Left ran the government in Delhi with Congress but never considered recognising Bangla, whereas it was the BJP government that granted it classical language status," he asserted.
The Prime Minister positioned the BJP as the harbinger of a new Bengal, promising a clean break from the past.
"The BJP has big dreams for West Bengal. We want to build a prosperous, developed Bengal. All the projects being launched here are a step towards that dream," he said.
Highlighting the state's reversal in fortunes, the Prime Minister recalled a time when Bengal attracted job-seekers from across the country.
"People used to come here from across India for employment. But today, the youth of Bengal are forced to migrate even for small jobs. This is the result of TMC's misrule," he said.
'Gunda Tax'
In a stinging critique of Bengal's economic environment under the TMC, PM Modi said the state has become inhospitable for industry and investors.
"TMC's 'Gunda Tax' is deterring investment in Bengal. The state's resources have fallen into the hands of the mafia, and government policies are deliberately designed to enable ministers to engage in blatant corruption," he said.
"Over the past decades, the situation in this region has become increasingly unfavourable for investment and employment. Frequent incidents of violence, biased policing, and a lack of faith in the justice system create an environment where no one feels confident about investing. Where riots like Murshidabad take place and police act in a biased manner, why will investors come here? Where violence breaks out at the slightest incident, why will anyone invest?" he asked.
On the teacher recruitment scam that has left nearly 26,000 teachers and non-teaching staff jobless in the state, the PM pulled no punches.
"Whether it's primary or higher education, the TMC government has handed Bengal's education system to crime and corruption. Thousands of qualified teachers are unemployed, and the future of lakhs of children is in darkness due to a shortage of teachers. This is not a coincidence, but the outcome of TMC's corrupt system," he said.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Deccan Herald
23 minutes ago
- Deccan Herald
Mamata sets stage for 'Bangaliyana vs Hindutva', asks TMC workers to launch stir against BJP's linguistic terror
Kolkata: Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, has accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of unleashing 'linguistic terrorism' on Bengalis across the country and called for a movement to protect the language and cultural identity of the state against such onslaughts by the saffron party. With the assembly elections in West Bengal less than a year away, Mamata not only blew the poll bugle with a no-holds-barred offensive against the BJP but also set the TMC's strategy to counter the saffron party's aggressive Hindutva with an assertive Bangaliyana. As she addressed a mammoth congregation of the TMC workers at the party's annual Martyrs' Day event in Kolkata to pay homage to the 13 people killed in police firing on July 21, 1993, while demanding fair polls, the TMC supremo also warned the BJP against using the Election Commission to manipulate the electoral rolls..'Being born Bengali has become crime in BJP states': CM Mamata Banerjee amid migrant party's general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee, said that he and other parliamentarians of the TMC would now speak only in Bengali in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha. 'We will not kowtow before any attempt by the BJP to erase Bengali.' 'We must win more seats in the 2026 assembly polls (in West Bengal) and then march to Delhi to oust the BJP from power at the Centre,' the TMC supremo said, coining the 'Jabda Habe, Stabdha Habe' (we will trounce them, silence them) as her party's new war cry for the 2026 assembly polls, moving on from the 'khela habe (game is on)'. The TMC over the past few weeks stepped up its attacks on the governments of the BJP-ruled states for the detention of migrant workers from West Bengal by police and, in some cases, even deportation to Bangladesh, often allegedly disregarding their claim of being genuine citizens of India. Mamata, the chief minister of West Bengal since 2011, on Monday accused the BJP-led governments in Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Gujarat and Delhi of harassing migrant workers from her state only because they spoke in their mother language to witness 'artificial fight' between Modi and Mamata as polls nearing: Adhir.'The BJP wants to erase our identity, language, culture and pride. But I promise you, till the time we oust them from the Centre, our fight will continue,' she said. 'In 2019, they vandalised the statue of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. They saw the results of that audacious act of insulting Bengali icons (in the 2021 assembly polls). Now, they have issued notifications to delete Bengali names from voter lists. In BJP-ruled states, Bengalis are being harassed and put in detention camps,' alleged the TMC supremo. 'If needed, there will be a second Bhasha Andolan (language movement) against the BJP's terrorism on the Bengali language... From July 27, a movement will start in Bengal to protest the attack on Bengalis, Bengali language and 'Bhasha Santras' (linguistic terrorism) of the BJP,' she said, adding: 'This language movement will continue till the end of the assembly polls.' The first 'Bhasha Andolan' had taken place in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) in 1952 to protest the imposition of Urdu and sidelining of Bengali in the eastern part of Pakistan. A police crackdown had resulted in the death of at least 29 protesting students on February 21, 1952. The United Nations later declared February 21 as International Mother Language Day..'BJP is watching': Suvendu cautions police officers 'siding' with TMC.'(West) Bengal is home to nearly 1.5 crore migrants from other states. We welcome people from all over India. But look at what the BJP is doing to Bengalis (in the states ruled by it),' said Mamata. She called upon the TMC workers to be very cautious to resist attempts by the BJP and the EC to erase names of legitimate voters of West Bengal from the electoral rolls of the state and instead enroll people from other BJP-ruled states. 'The BJP and the EC are conspiring against (West) Bengal. They want to do in Bengal what they did in Bihar through SIR (Special Intensive Revision). In Bihar, they have deleted the names of 40 lakh voters. If they try it here, we will gherao them. We will never allow it,' she said.


Time of India
23 minutes ago
- Time of India
Jagdeep Dhankhar resigns after nearly 3 years: A look back at his explosive face-offs with Mamata Banerjee as Bengal Governor
Before stepping down as Vice President citing health reasons, Jagdeep Dhankhar made headlines during his three-year stint as West Bengal Governor largely due to a highly publicised and persistent feud with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. While Dhankhar urged political harmony shortly before his resignation, his earlier tenure was marked by one of the most visible Governor-Chief Minister confrontations in recent Indian politics. Social media clashes and a blocked handle Tensions between Dhankhar and Banerjee escalated publicly when the Chief Minister blocked the Governor on Twitter. Dhankhar responded with a series of tweets criticising the state government's conduct. The editorial in the TMC's mouthpiece Jago Bangla, titled 'Ter Paben' (He Will Face the Consequence), reflected that the standoff was far from over. Dhankhar had actively used his official Twitter handle since assuming office in July 2019 to comment on various state matters, especially targeting the ruling TMC government. Letters, accusations, and constitutional sparring The strained relationship reached a critical point in November 2019 when both leaders exchanged official letters. Mamata Banerjee accused the Governor of provoking unrest and overstepping constitutional boundaries. Dhankhar countered, stating he had faced 'indignities' and verbal attacks from ministers. Banerjee urged the Governor to help maintain peace instead of 'aggravating' the situation through press briefings and tweets. The correspondence highlighted the power tussle between Raj Bhavan and Nabanna. Administrative deadlocks and the call for removal Banerjee had long called for Dhankhar's removal, citing difficulties caused by him in routine administrative functions—be it delayed file clearances or repeated summoning of top bureaucrats. The Chief Minister alleged that these actions were aimed at undermining her authority. Despite these tensions, Dhankhar was elevated to the Vice President's office in 2022, ending his truncated three-year governorship that typically spans five years. Political interpretation and the central government's role TMC saw Dhankhar's transfer to Delhi as a partial victory, although some leaders felt retaining him till the next assembly elections could have been politically useful to showcase BJP's alleged constitutional overreach. The central government, particularly Home Minister Amit Shah, reportedly informed Banerjee about Dhankhar's nomination without prior consultation—a move that the TMC criticised for bypassing established democratic protocols. A new political chapter, but lingering questions Hon'ble Vice-President & Chairman, Rajya Sabha, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar paid tributes in the House today to former Members of Rajya Sabha:Shri C. PerumalDr. K. KasturiranganShri Ronald Sapa TlauShri Nepaldev BhattacharjeeSardar Sukhdev Singh DhindsaShri Thennala G.… While Dhankhar has since engaged with opposition forces as Vice President, the unresolved friction with the Bengal government remains a case study in Centre-state relations. TMC's decision on whether to support his nomination reportedly hinged on Mamata Banerjee's strategy following her annual July 21 Shaheed Divas rally. Ultimately, Dhankhar's nomination sailed through without a strong opposition challenge. Jagdeep Dhankhar's years in West Bengal redefined the visibility and voice of a Governor in India's political structure moving from a ceremonial role to an outspoken participant in governance. His feud with Mamata Banerjee was not just personal or political—it became emblematic of deeper federal tensions.

The Hindu
23 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Farmer groups to step up campaign against FTA with U.S.
A general body meeting of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) held in New Delhi on Sunday (July 20, 2025) has warned the Union government against going ahead with the proposed trade agreement with the United States. The SKM said, in a statement on Monday (July 21, 2025), that the general body has also called for nationwide protests against the deal as it could act against the interests of farmers. The SKM will observe August 13 as 'Corporations Quit India Day' and said it seriously apprehends that the Narendra Modi government is surrendering to the diktats of the 'U.S. Imperialism' to sign the free trade agreement (FTA). The SKM said such an agreement could lead to opening up of agriculture, dairy and food markets and that will hurt the interests of the people. 'The FTA is supposed to come into effect by August 1, 2025. August 9 is the 83rd anniversary of the Quit India Day movement against British colonialism. To protest the BJP-led NDA government's moves to accept USA's pressures and increase imports of food and dairy items, including Genetically Modified foods and penetration of multinational corporations in food markets, SKM will issue a mass warning through these mass protests,' the statement said. 'Peasants will raise the slogan 'Corporations Quit India' on August 13 by organising tractor/ motor vehicle parades and protest demonstrations and burn effigies of the US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi,' the statement added. The meeting congratulated the leadership of the united trade union movement for the strike action on July 9. 'This was the 22nd general strike since the invention of neo-liberal policies and its success has filled confidence to all the democratic sections in the society that the entire working people are ready to fight back the anti-people policies of the ruling classes,' the statement said.