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The Hindu
2 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Martyrs Day rally: Trinamool Congress gears up to sharpen Bengali pride narrative amid migrant row
With an eye on Assembly polls next year in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) is gearing up to turn its annual Martyrs' Day rally into a powerful platform to sharpen its Bengali pride narrative and hit out at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking migrants in saffron-ruled States. Set against the backdrop of rising tensions over the linguistic profiling and treatment of Bengali migrant workers in BJP-governed States such as Assam, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi, the July 21 rally in Kolkata's Esplanade is expected to see Trinamool Congress supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issue a clarion call to her party workers, reiterating her message that "Bengalis are not second-class citizens in their own country." Calcutta High Court sets 'office hour' curbs for Mamata's July 21 rally "Time and again, poor Bengali-speaking workers are being picked up, harassed, and branded as illegal infiltrators. The BJP is criminalising poverty and weaponising identity to harass the marginalised," a senior TMC leader told PTI. In recent weeks, a political storm has been brewing in West Bengal, with Ms. Banerjee alleging that Bengali-speaking migrants are being detained, targeted, and subjected to linguistic profiling in the name of national security. "Being born a Bengali has become a crime in BJP States. They think every Bengali is from Bangladesh. We won't tolerate this insult," Ms. Banerjee thundered at a recent public meeting. Protests will rage if Bengalis are harassed, says Mamata The TMC has accused the BJP of resorting to "linguistic othering" and has sought to reignite the emotional chord of regional identity that helped it counter the BJP's Hindutva wave during the 2021 Assembly polls. "Dignity, identity, and survival are at stake. BJP is out to erase Bengali self-respect under the garb of nationalism. Our fight is not just electoral-it's existential," a TMC MP said. The BJP, on the other hand, has pushed back strongly. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, during his recent rally in Durgapur, accused the TMC of promoting infiltration and endangering national security for vote-bank politics. "It is the BJP that truly protects Bengali 'ashmita'," Mr. Modi had said, as he projected the BJP as the only credible alternative in Bengal. BJP persecuting Bengali speakers in Assam claims Mamata Banerjee; Himanta Biswa Sarma hits back Responding to the TMC's allegations over migrant harassment, BJP leaders have claimed that the confusion stems from the TMC's failure to streamline citizenship and voter documentation. "They are blaming others to hide their incompetence," said a Bengal BJP leader. The Martyrs' Day rally, observed annually on July 21, commemorates the killing of 13 youth activists in police firing in 1993 when Mamata Banerjee, then a fiery Youth Congress leader, led a march to the State Secretariat demanding that voter ID cards be made the sole document for franchise. Over the years, the rally has morphed into the biggest show of political strength by the TMC, often setting the tone for upcoming battles. This year's rally, party insiders say, will be a launch pad for a high-voltage campaign leading up to the 2026 Assembly polls, where the TMC plans to weaponise both Bengali pride and the perceived humiliation of its people across State borders. "We gave them 'poriborton' (change) in 2011. Now, we will give them 'protibad' (resistance)," said a young TMC MLA, hinting at a fiery speech by Ms. Banerjee that will blend emotional appeal with sharp political messaging. Security has been beefed up for Monday's rally, with thousands of supporters already streaming into the city from across the State. Ms. Banerjee, known for her emotive oratory, is expected to take direct aim at the BJP's "double standards" — questioning how the same party that talks of Bengali pride in Bengal is accused of humiliating Bengalis elsewhere. With lakhs of supporters expected to pour into Kolkata from every corner of the State — some on overcrowded local trains, others by trucks draped in TMC flags — the city is already witnessing a carnival-like build-up. Tea stalls and dhabas in Esplanade and Sealdah are abuzz with slogans such as "Khela Hobe, abar hobe" and "Banglar keu Bangladeshi noy" (No Bengali from Bengal is a Bangladeshi). As a party strategist put it, "From 1993 to 2025, this rally is more than a tribute. It is Mamata Banerjee's declaration of battle against injustice, against humiliation, and for the soul of Bengal. With the 2026 Assembly showdown on the horizon and a resurgent BJP sharpening its knives, the July 21 rally is poised to be more than just a commemoration — it's a political bugle call. In a State where identity runs deep and memory lingers long, the rally promises to redraw the battle lines of power, pride, and perception. In the grand political theatre that lies ahead, July 21 could well be TMC's opening act — with Mamata Banerjee cast once again as the combative protagonist, and 'Bengali asmita' as both shield and sword.


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
TMC's Mamata Banerjee to sharpen Bengali pride pitch at Martyrs Day rally amid migrant row
With an eye on assembly polls next year, the TMC is gearing up to turn its annual Martyrs' Day rally into a powerful platform to sharpen its Bengali pride narrative and hit out at the BJP over the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking migrants in saffron-ruled states. Set against the backdrop of rising tensions over the linguistic profiling and treatment of Bengali migrant workers in BJP-governed states such as Assam, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat and Delhi, the July 21 rally in Kolkata's Esplanade is expected to see Trinamool Congress supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee issue a clarion call to her party workers, reiterating her message that "Bengalis are not second-class citizens in their own country". 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The BJP is criminalising poverty and weaponising identity to harass the marginalised," a senior TMC leader told PTI. In recent weeks, a political storm has been brewing in Bengal, with Banerjee alleging that Bengali-speaking migrants are being detained, targeted, and subjected to linguistic profiling in the name of national security. "Being born a Bengali has become a crime in BJP states. They think every Bengali is from Bangladesh. We won't tolerate this insult," Banerjee thundered at a recent public meeting. The TMC has accused the BJP of resorting to "linguistic othering" and has sought to reignite the emotional chord of regional identity that helped it counter the BJP's Hindutva wave during the 2021 assembly polls. Live Events "Dignity, identity, and survival are at stake. BJP is out to erase Bengali self-respect under the garb of nationalism. Our fight is not just electoral-it's existential," said a TMC MP. The BJP, on the other hand, has pushed back strongly. Prime Minister Narendra Modi , during his recent rally in Durgapur, accused the TMC of promoting infiltration and endangering national security for vote-bank politics. "It is the BJP that truly protects Bengali 'ashmita'," Modi had said, as he projected the BJP as the only credible alternative in Bengal. Responding to the TMC's allegations over migrant harassment, BJP leaders have claimed that the confusion stems from the TMC's failure to streamline citizenship and voter documentation. "They are blaming others to hide their incompetence," said a Bengal BJP leader. The Martyrs' Day rally, observed annually on July 21, commemorates the killing of 13 youth activists in police firing in 1993 when Mamata Banerjee, then a fiery Youth Congress leader, led a march to the state secretariat demanding that voter ID cards be made the sole document for franchise. Over the years, the rally has morphed into the biggest show of political strength by the TMC, often setting the tone for upcoming battles. This year's rally, party insiders say, will be a launch pad for a high-voltage campaign leading up to the 2026 assembly polls , where the TMC plans to weaponise both Bengali pride and the perceived humiliation of its people across state borders. "We gave them 'poriborton' (change) in 2011. Now we will give them 'protibad' (resistance)," said a young TMC MLA, hinting at a fiery speech by Banerjee that will blend emotional appeal with sharp political messaging. Security has been beefed up for Monday's rally, with thousands of supporters already streaming into the city from across the state. Banerjee, known for her emotive oratory, is expected to take direct aim at the BJP's "double standards" - questioning how the same party that talks of Bengali pride in Bengal is accused of humiliating Bengalis elsewhere. With lakhs of supporters expected to pour into Kolkata from every corner of the state, some on overcrowded local trains, others by trucks draped in TMC flags, the city is already witnessing a carnival-like build-up. Tea stalls and dhabas in Esplanade and Sealdah are abuzz with slogans like "Khela Hobe, abar hobe" and "Banglar keu Bangladeshi noy" (No Bengali from Bengal is a Bangladeshi). As a party strategist put it, "From 1993 to 2025, this rally is more than a tribute. It is Mamata Banerjee's declaration of battle against injustice, against humiliation, and for the soul of Bengal. With the 2026 assembly showdown on the horizon and a resurgent BJP sharpening its knives, the July 21 rally is poised to be more than just a commemoration - it's a political bugle call. In a state where identity runs deep and memory lingers long, the rally promises to redraw the battle lines of power, pride, and perception. In the grand political theatre that lies ahead, July 21 could well be TMC's opening act - with Mamata Banerjee cast once again as the combative protagonist, and 'Bengali asmita' as both shield and sword.


Time of India
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Hry releases 27 Bengal workers, 3 still in detention
1 2 Kolkata: As many as 27 of 30 Bengali migrant workers, held by Surajkund police in Faridabad since July 15, have been released, Trinamool Congress MP and chairman of West Bengal Migrant Workers' Welfare Board Samirul Islam said on Saturday. While they were released in a phased manner, three still remain in detention. All of them worked as ragpickers and hail from Nadia. On July 16, CM Mamata Banerjee walked from College Square to Esplanade to protest the detentions of Bengali migrants in different parts of the country. She claimed that the Centre "issued a secret notification in Feb to detain and arrest anyone speaking in Bengali in case of any suspicion". Calling it "super-Emergency", Banerjee also signalled that the state administration would legally challenge the detentions of Bengali-speaking migrant workers. Highlighting the continuing harassment of Bengali-speaking workers in BJP-governed states like Odisha, Assam, and Delhi, Islam added that even members of the Matua community and Rajbanshis were being detained and arrested. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata Islam alleged that migrant Bengalis were being labelled as Rohingya and Bangladeshis, without verifying their identity. "The same thing happened in BJP-governed Maharashtra too. In Pune, Matuas were detained on suspicion of being Bangladeshi nationals. Shockingly, BJP MP and junior Union minister Shantanu Thakur, himself a Matua, is silent on the issue," he said. Mamata Bala Thakur, TMC's RS MP and a Matua leader , on Saturday visited the houses of some of the detained Matuas living in Bongaon to assure them that the state govt was taking all steps to ensure their early release.


Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Release my sons, says dad of Matua bros held in Maha jail
1 2 Kolkata: Two brothers belonging to the Matua community from Nadia are reportedly languishing in a Maharashtra prison for the last six months despite prod- ucing multiple Indian IDs and even identity cards issued by the All India Matua Mahasangha (AIMM), bearing the signature of junior Union minister and Bongaon BJP MP Shantanu Thakur . On Friday, the grieving parents of Manishankar Biswas and his younger sibling Nayan sought their immediate release, accusing Maharashtra Police of wrongfully detaining them on suspicion of being Bangladeshi immigrants. The accusations also triggered political outrage, coming just days after the arrest of six members from the community (including three children) in Pune on similar charges. Speaking from his home in Ranaghat's Rainagar, Nishikanta Biswas, a devout Matua follower, said the family was running from pillar to post to secure the release of his sons. He claimed that Manishankar and Nayan — both in their early 30s — furnished Aadhaar cards, voter ID cards and even AIMM identity cards as proof of Indian citizenship. However, Maharashtra Police allegedly dismissed these documents as "inadequate". You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "We are closely associated with the Thakurbari in Thakurnagar. We travel around singing devotional songs at all Matua religious events. My sons went to Pune for work, and we depend on their income to survive. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Since their arrest, my paralysed wife has not been able to get medical treatment," Nishikanta said, breaking down in tears. His wife reportedly suffered a brain stroke after hearing of her sons' detention, he said. "We voted for BJP, we trusted them," said Nishikanta, "but now we feel abandoned". The family said they reached out to several netas for help. "The police are treating them as illegal Rohingya immigrants despite having Indian documents. This is nothing short of harassment," said Sashikanta, Nishikanta's brother. Trinamool's Rajya Sabha MP Mamata Bala Thakur and MP Samirul Islam condemned the arrests, alleging members of the Matua community were facing systematic targeting in BJP-governed states like Maharashtra. "They are Indian citizens. They hold Aadhaar, voter cards and Matua Mahasangha IDs signed by Shantanu Thakur himself. Yet, they have been labelled as Bangladeshis. This is shameful," said Islam. "Matuas are being harassed in BJP-governed Maharashtra. It reflects the govt's deep-seated apathy and bias towards Bengali-speaking Hindus," Mamata Bala said. While Shantanu did not respond to calls, his brother Subrata Thakur, the BJP MLA from Gaighata, said the matter was resolved. "This is part of a legal process. When someone is suspected of being an infiltrator, the authorities concerned are bound to verify their documents. Once that is complete, they are released. TMC is unnecessarily politicising the issue," he said. Subrata said that large numbers of illegal immigrants, including Rohingya and Bangladeshis, had entered India, and police were conducting legal crackdowns in many states. Citizenship has been a restive issue among Matuas, prompting AIMM to issue the ID cards.


Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
TMC lauds PM's ‘poribartan'
Kolkata: on Friday feted the "poribartan (change)" in Prime Minister hours after he began his speech at Durgapur with "Jai Ma Kali, Jai Ma Durga". "The PM said he wants poribartan (change). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now But what has changed? The change has come in Narendra Modi. He has shifted from chanting 'Jai Sri Ram' to 'Jai Ma Kali' and 'Jai Ma Durga'. Such a transformation shows Bengal's soil has changed him," Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said at a press meet where 'singara' and 'jalebi' were served to all as a reminder to the now-withdrawn diktat against these traditional Indian snacks by the central govt. Accusing of using God as "a political brand ambassador" and, therefore, leaning on Lord Ram, Ghosh said, "Some leaders on the dais chanted Jai Sri Ram today as well, but the PM quickly made his stance clear by paying homage to Ma Kali and Ma Durga." At the same press meet, minister Chandrima Bhattacharya slammed the PM for claiming that youth were fleeing the state due to a lack of jobs. "Bengali labourers are skilled, which is why they work all over India," she said, and drawing attention to the harassment of Bengali-speaking workers in BJP-governed states, she added, "You are hindering the right to speech and movement. You are insulting Bengalis. Your double-engine govts are expelling Bengalis, labelling them Rohingya. It is clear that you are under pressure to learn Bengali. Why didn't you criticise the expelling of Bengalis from BJP-governed states?" In a post on X, Trinamool Congress also demanded answers to five questions: "Is speaking Bangla a crime? If yes, does that make him a criminal too for singing the National Anthem and National Song, both written in Bangla? If no, why are Bengali-speaking citizens being detained and deported in BJP-ruled states? Which provision of the Constitution allows state-sponsored persecution based on language? And does BJP truly believe this is how they'll earn the mandate of the people of Bengal?" Countering the PM's claims on women being unsafe in Bengal, Bhattacharya asked, "Do you have deep concern for women? What about the girl in Odisha who burned herself to death? You said nothing about her. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Here, all crimes against women are taken seriously, with quick arrests, be it RG Kar or the law college incident. We criticise such crimes." Ghosh alleged the PM was engaging in political deceit since he had arrived in Bengal empty-handed, without settling the state's NREGA scheme dues worth Rs 1.7 lakh crores. "He spoke of an invisible Rs 5,000 crore and is spreading falsehoods. He promised 22 crore jobs, but in reality, only 22 lakh jobs were provided. He is only spreading lies. BJP will not even get 50 seats in the upcoming state election," he said. Earlier in the day, minister Sashi Panja criticised the Centre for their inability to nab the terrorists behind the Pahalgam attack. "It has been 88 days since 26 people were brutally killed in the Pahalgam terror attack, yet the nation has received no answers. Who allowed terrorists to infiltrate 200 km, kill, and vanish undetected? If this is a security lapse, it is also a grave intelligence failure. Bengal demands to know, where are the attackers? What happened after the sketches were released? Silence is not an option," she said.