BJP govt in Assam threatening Bengali-speaking people: Mamata
Banerjee also asserted that the 'divisive agenda' of the BJP in Assam has 'crossed all limits'.
Kolkata, Jul 19 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday slammed the BJP government in Assam for 'threatening' Bengali-speaking people in the northeastern state, who want to 'peacefully coexist, respecting all languages and religions'.
'The second most spoken language in the country, Bangla, is also the second most spoken language of Assam. To threaten citizens, who want to coexist peacefully respecting all languages and religions, with persecution for upholding their own mother tongue is discriminatory and unconstitutional.
'This divisive agenda of the BJP in Assam has crossed all limits and people of Assam will fight back. I stand with every fearless citizen who is fighting for the dignity of their language and identity, and their democratic rights,' she said in a post on X.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma had alleged on Thursday that his West Bengal counterpart was only concerned about Bengali-speaking Muslims.
'The question is whether Mamata Banerjee likes Bengalis or only Muslim-Bengalis. My answer is only Muslim-Bengalis,' Sarma had said in Guwahati, responding to the Bengal CM's recent accusation against the BJP of weaponising linguistic identity to achieve political goals.
'If she comes to Assam for the Muslim-Bengalis, the Assamese people and Hindu-Bengalis will not spare her,' he asserted.
Banerjee had also taken out a protest march in Kolkata on Wednesday against the alleged torture of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states. PTI SCH RBT
This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
39 minutes ago
- Time of India
Interfaith gathering opposes Waqf, Bodh Gaya Temple Acts
1 2 Nagpur: Prominent voices from both the Muslim and Buddhist communities on Sunday called for mass movement against the implementation of the Waqf Amendment Act, 2025 and the Bodh Gaya Temple Act. Representatives from both communities had gathered under one roof at an interfaith conference on Constitutional Rights organised by the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) and the Bharatiya Bhagidari Mission (BBM) at the Babasaheb Ambedkar International Convention Centre, Teka. The speakers alleged that the recent amendments infringed on the fundamental rights of religious freedom and the autonomy of religious institutions under Articles 25 and 26 of the Indian Constitution. Key speakers included AIMPLB spokesperson Qasim Rasul Ilyas, AIMPLB general secretary Moulana Fazlur Rahim Mujaddidi, advocate Suresh Mane (founder-president, BBM), advocate Firdos Mirza and advocate Bhupendra Raipure. Ilyas called for a mass movement against the Act just like the farmers' protest in 2021 against the farm laws. "We must be prepared for a mass movement to ensure these discriminatory laws are rolled back, if not by this govt, then by the next govt," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No annual fees for life UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo Dr Vinod Rangari, district president of BBM, initiated the discussion followed by an introductory address by Abdul Rauf Shaikh, former CEO of the Maharashtra Waqf Board, who highlighted the object of the interfaith conference. Adv Mirza spoke on the constitutional rights of minorities. Qasim Rasul Ilyas offered a detailed critique of the Waqf Amendment Act 2025. Advocate Raipure shed light on the Bodh Gaya Temple Act. Dr Ravindra Mane called the gathering a new beginning in interfaith unity. Moulana Muzaddidi, in his presidential address, emphasised the need for peaceful protest against "unconstitutional laws". Dr Aves Hasan conducted the proceedings while Moulana Abdul Wahab Parekh delivered a vote of thanks. The programme concluded with a dua by Moulana Siraj Ahmed Qasmi. Mufti Abdul Qadir, Maulana Mustafa and Mufti Sabir among others were present. Hanif Patel, Irshad, Rafiq, Atiq Qureshi and members of CSRI and ASRA Foundations played a key role in ensuring the success of the meet.
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
Right decision will be taken at right time: Uddhav on Raj
Raj and Uddhav Thackeray MUMBAI: Even as MNS chief Raj Thackeray maintained a studied silence on an alliance with Sena UBT after their 'victory rally' earlier this month, Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday reiterated that the two cousins are together. 'Whoever has a problem with two brothers coming together should deal with it. We will fulfil Maharashtra 's dream together. The right decision will be taken at the right time,' Sena UBT chief Uddhav said in an interview with the party newspaper Saamna on Sunday, reports Priyanka Kakodkar. When asked if any talks were held on the two coming together politically, he said, 'Talks will happen. We came together after 20 years. That's not a small thing. I am ready to do whatever is necessary for the Marathi people, language, and culture of Maharashtra.' 'I can pick up the phone and call him. He can call me... If we have to meet, we will meet openly. As a result of us coming together, not only are the Marathi people our Muslim brothers are happy,' he added. On possibility of MVA alliance for elections in municipal corporations, he said, 'When we held talks, Congress said they may take decisions at local level. If that's the case, that's what we will do.' Clearing the air about his recent meeting with Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis in the state legislature, Uddhav said, 'He is the CM, and we hope he does some good. But as a former political ally, I can only advise him to put an end to the controversies surrounding his ministerial colleagues. Finally, it will affect Fadnavis's reputation.' On the controversy over imposition of Hindi in schools, he said, 'BJP is instigating divisions between different states. But our position is clear. We are not against Hindi, but we do not want it to be imposed on us.'
The Hindu
an hour ago
- The Hindu
Nainar Nagenthran flays DMK government over poor cleanliness in cities
BJP Tamil Nadu president Nainar Nagenthran on Sunday said the DMK leaders should be ashamed of boasting about governance over the past four years, when the State government has failed to contain the growing problem of garbage accumulation in cities. In a statement, Mr. Nagenthran said it was deeply shocking that in the national-level cleanliness survey, Swachh Survekshan 2024-25, released by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs, Chennai ranked 38th and Madurai 40th among the 40 cities in the country having a population of more than 10 lakh. 'When not a single city from Tamil Nadu finds a place in the top ten, what happened to the Dravidian model government's claims of spending thousands of crores every year on sanitation work? Is the DMK government incapable of managing the garbage crisis in the State, just as it is unable to control rising crime?' Mr. Nagenthran asked. 'It is tragic that Tamil Nadu has been turning into a hotspot for diseases due to ineffective administration. Poor conditions in government hospitals, major cities becoming garbage dumps, and large-scale corruption under the guise of maintenance all pointed to the incompetence of the ruling DMK government,' he alleged.
