Latest news with #Bengali-speaking


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Mithun Chakraborty counters Mamata's migrant claims, slams EC gherao call
BJP leader and actor Mithun Chakraborty on Thursday hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee , dismissing her recent remarks alleging attacks on Bengali-speaking migrant workers in other states as "baseless" and accusing her of spreading fear for political mileage. Talking to reporters, Chakraborty said Banerjee's comments were intended to "stir controversy" and create "an unnecessary panic" among the people of West Bengal. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Data Science healthcare Product Management CXO Healthcare Public Policy MBA Management others Finance Degree Leadership Artificial Intelligence Technology MCA Data Analytics Design Thinking Project Management Others Data Science Digital Marketing Operations Management Cybersecurity Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Prof Cert in DS & BA with GenAI India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months IIT Madras CERT-IITM Advanced Cert Prog in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 11 Months E&ICT Academy, Indian Institute of Technology Guwahati CERT-IITG Postgraduate Cert in AI and ML India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 30 Weeks IIM Kozhikode SEPO - IIMK-AI for Senior Executives India Starts on undefined Get Details Skills you'll gain: Duration: 10 Months IIM Kozhikode CERT-IIMK DABS India Starts on undefined Get Details He accused the Trinamool Congress supremo of politicising the issue and attempting to monopolise the identity discourse around the Bengali language and people. "She wants to create controversy in everything. Nothing is going to happen. Bangla language will remain as it is. Mamata Banerjee has no monopoly over it. We will put up a strong fight," the veteran actor said. The comments come days after Banerjee, while addressing a public rally, alleged that Bengali migrant workers were being harassed in states such as Gujarat and Maharashtra and warned against what she called the " linguistic terrorism " of the BJP. Live Events She had also urged her party workers to launch protests against the alleged deletion of names of minority and migrant voters from electoral rolls in West Bengal and neighbouring Bihar, including a call to 'gherao' the Election Commission offices. Reacting sharply to Banerjee's gherao call, Chakraborty said, "The Election Commission must act. Fake and bogus voters have to be removed; only then will elections be fair. Even if the Commission is gheraoed, what will that achieve? What is the point of such protests?" The political war of words comes at a time when the state is witnessing rising political heat ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. While the TMC has raised concerns over what it sees as attempts to disenfranchise sections of the electorate and erode Bengali linguistic and cultural identity, the BJP has accused the ruling party of running a fear campaign and diverting attention from governance issues.


Time of India
3 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'No Bangladeshis, only Bengali workers in my Bengaluru hotel': Mithun Chakraborty counters Mamata Banerjee's claims on migrants; calls out fear narrative
NEW DELHI: BJP leader and actor Mithun Chakraborty on Thursday dismissed West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee 's recent claims that Bengali migrant workers were being targeted in other states. Chakraborty termed the remarks as an attempt to stir unnecessary controversy and spread fear among the public. Responding to Banerjee's concerns over the safety of Bengali-speaking migrants, Chakraborty said, 'These are all lies. I opened a hotel in Bengaluru where most of the workers were Bengali migrants. There were no Bangladeshis. But if someone is Bangladeshi, they will obviously be identified as Bangladeshi.' You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata He accused the chief minister of politicising the issue. 'She wants to create controversy in everything. Nothing is going to happen. Bangla language will remain as it is. Mamata Banerjee has got no monopoly over it. We will put up a strong fight,' he said. Chakraborty also criticised Banerjee's call to gherao the Election Commission over alleged voter list tampering in Bengal and Bihar. "She (Mamata) has no other option, but this will definitely happen. The Election Commission must act. Fake and bogus voters have to be removed, only then will elections be fair. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 15 most beautiful women in the world Undo Even if the Commission is gheraoed, what will that achieve? What's the point (of such protests)' he added. The BJP leader's remarks come amid heightened political tension in West Bengal, with the TMC alleging discrimination against Bengali-speaking citizens and raising concerns over the legitimacy of the electoral rolls and local entrepreneurship.


News18
3 hours ago
- Politics
- News18
‘Will I Have To Prove My Identity Every Time?' Bongaon Voter Detained In Haryana Alleges Harassment
Last Updated: Najmul said he was detained despite providing all original identification documents and is now uncertain about his future in the state For Najmul, a registered voter from West Bengal's Bongaon, life in Haryana was peaceful. He had moved to the state four months ago for a housekeeping job and also brought his parents with him. However, on July 19, Najmul's calm life took a turn for the worse, leaving the family traumatised. According to Najmul, police arrived at his residence in Haryana last week and asked him to show his identity documents. 'I showed them all my IDs," he told News18. However, he was asked to accompany the cops for further verification. 'They made us sit under a tree. Then the police asked me, 'When did you come from Bangladesh?' I was shocked. I am a bonafide Indian citizen. Why were they accusing me like this?" Najmul asked. He added that he was not the only one detained. 'There were others from Murshidabad and Malda who were also brought there," he said. Najmul claimed his father came to meet him that night with original copies of all their documents, but was not allowed to hand them over. He also alleged that he was not given any food until the next morning. Najmul's biggest worry now is the uncertainty that looms over his future. 'We come to Haryana for work. This time they picked me up and kept me for five days. If they pick me up again, will I have to prove myself every time? How many times will we face this harassment?" he asked. On Tuesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had condemned the BJP after the Gurugram administration in Haryana detained 52 Bengali-speaking migrant workers on suspicion that they were illegal immigrants from Bangladesh and sought background verification reports from the Bengal government. Addressing a press conference, Banerjee said: 'It is our duty to protect citizens. If the BJP thinks this is how it can delete the names of voters and win elections, as it did in Delhi and Maharashtra, then it is making a big mistake." The chief minister is slated to begin a year-long 'Bhasha Andolan" from July 27 to protest against the detention of Bengali-speaking individuals in BJP-ruled states. Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.


United News of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- United News of India
Trinamool welcomes stay order on eviction of Bengali-speaking people from Delhi colony
Kolkata, July 24 (UNI) West Bengal ruling Trinamool Congress today welcomed the Patiala House Court's stay order on eviction of Bengali-speaking people from Delhi's Jai Hind Colony, saying it was a significant step forward for the ongoing fight for justice. "The eviction of Bengalis in Jai Hind Colony of Delhi's Vasant Kunj has been stayed by the Patiala House Court, marking a significant step forward in our ongoing fight for justice," TMC said in a statement. "This is a direct and decisive response to the continued targeting of Bengali-speaking citizens by the Modi-led government," the All India Trinamool Congress said in a statement. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee recently accused the BJP of unleashing 'linguistic terrorism' on Bengalis, asserting that the fight for identity and language would continue until the saffron party is defeated. She said the Bengali-speaking people have been harassed in the name of identifying illegal Bangladeshi immigrants in different parts of India, particularly in the BJP-led NDA-ruled states. " Under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee, we reaffirm our stand: every Bengali will be protected, and every act of injustice will be resisted. This is just the beginning. Our fight for dignity, recognition, and justice for Bengali-speaking Indians will continue with full force. Joy Bangla!" the TMC statement said after the Delhi court stayed eviction of people from Jai Hind Colony today. The TMC also said the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) in Bihar was a sinister attempt to disenfranchise millions, especially the poor and vulnerable people of the country. "This is NRC by stealth, a back door citizenship verification drive masquerading as voter list update. With the ECI acting as a willing enabler, the BJP is plotting to redraw the voter base in its favour," the TMC alleged. "We will oppose every attempt to undermine democracy and strip rightful Indian citizens of their voice and vote. The cornerstone of any functioning democracy is the conduct of free and fair elections," the party said. UNI PC PRS
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Nikkei Asia
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Nikkei Asia
Bengali-speaking Muslims in India fear detention, deportation
Mohammad Shamsu, a Bengali-speaking Muslim migrant, works as a ragpicker in India's capital, New Delhi. He lives in fear of deportation and detention amid the ongoing crackdown against Bengali Muslim migrants. (Photo by Quratulain Rehbar) QURATULAIN REHBAR NEW DELHI -- It has been nearly a month since Sonali Khatun, four months pregnant, along with her husband, were detained by Delhi police and dumped at the Bangladesh border on June 26. "First, the police told her to bring her children if she wanted her husband back [from a police station where he was detained]. She went, showed them their documents to prove they're Indians, but the police didn't care," Roshni Bibi, her cousin, who lives in New Delhi, told Nikkei Asia.