Latest news with #Mamata
Hindustan Times
a day ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Did you ask Maldives president his religion before hugging': Mamata Banerjee's jibe at PM Modi
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday attacked the centre for allegedly depriving the state of funds even as she hit out over the recent announcement of India giving ₹4,850 crore Line of Credit to Maldives. Mamata Banerjee has recently slammed BJP states over 'linguistic terror' on Bengalis.(AFP File) Mamata Banerjee launched the 'Bhasha Andolan' (Language Movement) from Bolpur in Birbhum district, declaring that she would "give up her life, but not allow anyone to snatch her language", according to news agency PTI. Mamata Banerjee, taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asked, 'When you travel to Arab nations and hug the sheikhs, do you ask whether they are Hindus or Muslims?' She also hit out at the PM's recent visit to Maldives and said, 'Did you ask Maldives president his religion when you hugged him and donated 5,000 crore while depriving Bengal of its dues.' Also Read: Pahalgam attack mastermind Suleman Shah killed in Kashmir encounter: Sources Mamata said that she doesn't want a division on the basis of language and protested against the alleged attacks on Bengali migrants. She accused the Centre and the Election Commission of attempting to "implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) through the backdoor" in Bengal by targeting Bengali-speaking migrants. The Bengal CM accused the centre of waging a "linguistic terror" and vowed not to allow the construction of detention camps in Bengal. "We will stop this conspiracy to jeopardise our existence in the name of linguistic terror and attempt to implement NRC by the backdoor," Banerjee said, according to PTI. "I won't allow the implementation of NRC or the building of detention camps in Bengal," Mamata added.
India.com
a day ago
- Politics
- India.com
Mamata Banerjee: বোলপুরে রাস্তায় মিছিল, সভায় NRC-র বিরুদ্ধে তীব্র প্রতিবাদ মমতার
Videos Mamata Banerjee: বোলপুরে রাস্তায় মিছিল, সভায় NRC-র বিরুদ্ধে তীব্র প্রতিবাদ মমতার | Zee 24 Ghanta Street Rally in Bolpur — Mamata Launches Strong Protest Against NRC in Public Meeting Street Rally in Bolpur — Mamata Launches Strong Protest Against NRC in Public Meeting | Updated: Jul 28, 2025, 06:25 PM IST Advertisement Street Rally in Bolpur — Mamata Launches Strong Protest Against NRC in Public Meeting
Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Detentions, protests & identity: Bengal's poll battle heats up
Stobdo hobe, Jobdo hobe (They will be silenced, they will be taken to task). Mamata Banerjee's war cry at TMC 's annual Martyrs' Day rally was aimed squarely at the BJP . Her tone this year was far more combative than last year, when the central focus had been the looming shadow of ED investigations into her party leaders. This time, the spotlight is on a far more emotive issue: Bengalis allegedly being targeted in BJP-ruled states. For a leader who thrives on street protests, who rose to power riding waves of popular agitation, Mamata seems to have found a powerful rallying point to recharge her cadre, counter anti-incumbency, blunt infighting, and deflect from stench of corruption now encircling the power echelons of the state. She launched 'Bhasha Andolan' from Tagore's land Bolpur on Monday against what she calls Bhasha Santras — linguistic terrorism. The BJP, anticipating trouble, has quietly adjusted its tone in Bengal. Jai Shri Ram chants have gone to the backburner, while Jai Maa Durga and Jai Maa Kali have found prominence. Days after Abhishek Banerjee's provocation, JP Nadda echoed Jai Bangla, while PM Modi tried to reassure sentiments in his Durgapur speech by giving his 'guarantee' to preserve 'Bangali Asmita'. The appointment of soft-spoken, bhadralok intellectual Samik Bhattacharya as state president is another strand of this new narrative. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Byron Sports Hub bryonsportshub Read More Undo Suddenly, Bengali sub-nationalism is at centre stage, just as linguistic identity battles are flaring up across the country, from Karnataka to Maharashtra. But in Bengal, the picture is more layered. Identity and language collide with questions of nationality, and the hot-button issue of alleged illegal migration from Bangladesh and Myanmar. Citizenship, culture, and the crackdown From Donald Trump to Viktor Orban, populist right-wing leaders have often piggybacked on the wave of immigration issue to win elections. In India though NRC stumbled and stalled, many BJP-led states are now reportedly acting on an MHA directive issued in May to states and UTs to invoke their statutory powers to detect, identify and deport illegal immigrants. Apart from the issue of security, the idea of preserving Bharatiya culture by protecting the demography of the nation has been a recurring theme in the words of leaders like Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma and West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Sarma's reply to a post by Mamata Banerjee, where he vowed to fight for existence, has gone viral. His response to another lawyer in the same issue was even more eye-opening. This, along with the Election Commission's latest Special Intensive Revision (SIR) initiative, now announced for nationwide implementation after its controversial rollout in poll-bound Bihar, means citizenship,or the lack of it, has suddenly become a burning issue just months before the Bengal elections. TMC believes SIR isn't a routine exercise, but an NRC in disguise. Some estimates say more than 50 lakh names may be struck out in Bihar itself! TMC's allegation: It's about language TMC MP and chairman of West Bengal's Migrant Workers' Welfare Board, Samirul Islam told TOI that people are being targeted purely for speaking Bengali. An IIT Delhi alumnus, he claims to have seen documents of people with property deeds from as far back as 1922, yet branded as illegals and pushed back to Bangladesh. He alleges that not just Muslims, but Hindus too are being questioned and will face severe scrutiny in coming days. While 1.5 crore workers from other states operate freely in Bengal, some of the 21 lakh Bengalis working outside are being hounded, claims MP at the forefront of this protest. Regarding detentions and pushbacks, BJP so far has firmly rejected the claim, saying law enforcement is only hauling up people bearing a needle of suspicion. But many believe this narrative may not go unchallenged. In Odisha, 403 out of 447 alleged Bangladeshis had to be released after verification. Similar cases have been reported in the NCR. This gives ammunition to TMC's charge that innocents are being picked up randomly or with devious intentions. To make matters worse for BJP, Matua community members were reportedly detained in Maharashtra, and a Rajbanshi from Bengal received an NRC notice in Assam among others, adding fuel to Mamata's political fire. Matua and Rajbanshi factor In Bengal, Matuas in the south and Rajbanshis in the north are two key Scheduled Caste communities. Rajbanshis number around 4 million; Matuas over 3 million as per different estimates. Both were wooed by BJP's CAA promise and have largely supported the party in recent elections. Unsurprisingly, In 2021, BJP won 32 of 68 SC seats in the assembly elections. If the saffron party has to harbour any chances of winning Bengal in 2026, it needs to significantly better its tally among the SC-ST seats. Thus, TMC is going to town saying even Hindus especially the marginalised are not safe from this exercise. That narrative, say observers, could shift loyalties. Professor Subhamoy Maitra warns that even if only a few from these communities face harassment, the perception of being under scrutiny could hurt BJP. While SIR might have procedural merit, politically it may turn into quicksand, especially if Mamata succeeds in framing it as a witch-hunt. Also a lot will depend on the composition of people whose names get deleted after the SIR exercise is over, according to the social scientist. However, Maitra also believes BJP may be walking into a trap. He opines that the saffron party needs to highlight acts of omission and commission by the TMC, such as the ruling party's focus on doles, including Rs 10 lakh per booth as part of a community connect scheme. He argues that political discourse should return to development rather than swirl around identity politics and emotional appeals. The way TMC has resorted to blatant corruption needs to be effectively called out, Maitra concludes. Rohingya bogey or reality? Mamata recently has raised doubts about BJP's claim that India has 17 lakh Rohingyas saying global figures put their total population at just 11 lakh. TOI spoke to Dr. Sucharita Sengupta, who completed her PhD on statelessness and the Rohingya crisis in South Asia. According to her, there are no reliable estimates for how many Rohingyas are currently in India, though the best guess pegged the figure at around 40,000 in 2018. She debunks the common claim that Bengalis and Rohingyas are linguistically similar. In fact, most Rohingya youth she interviewed preferred Hindi or English. For many of them, India was never a destination, merely a transit. Yet, as fate would have it, they now find themselves stuck. Even if identified, Sengupta asks, where can they be sent? Neither Myanmar nor Bangladesh is likely to accept them. With no global framework for refugee repatriation, the situation remains a grey zone. The absence of an international charter for granting citizenship makes the issue even more precarious, she says. Unease within BJP Former Governor and erstwhile head of BJP in Bengal, Tathagata Roy, has claimed that Bengalis , both Hindus and Muslims are helping authorities and should actively participate in identifying Bangladeshi Muslims and Rohingyas. He reposes faith in Suvendu Adhikari's words that the party will protect the interests of Hindus who migrated from Bangladesh. However, not all in BJP are convinced. Khagen Murmu, MP from Malda North, a border district, says he is hurt that Bengali workers are being embarrassed and forced to answer questions in other states. 'Bangladeshi infiltrators are indeed in huge numbers. So I advise our state's workers to carry identity cards and avoid such embarrassment,' he said. When asked about Murmu's concerns, Roy told TOI that infiltration has been happening since the early 1980s. He acknowledged that with such extensive groundwork, some issues are bound to crop up, but added that TMC would try to blow them out of proportion. The BJP leadership and central government, he said, must handle this with political caution. The presence of riverine borders virtually makes effective patrolling extremely difficult, explained Roy when quizzed about why illegal immigration continues to remain a reality even after ten years of Modi government. TMC senses an opportunity, BJP pushes back For now, TMC is using the uncertainty as a potent election weapon. Sensing discomfort, BJP has stepped up its counter-offensive. The West Bengal unit has been posting videos of Bengalis living peacefully in Delhi and elsewhere. Meanwhile, the NCR has become a hotspot for detentions which has brought greater mainstream attention to the issue. In Gurgaon alone, 237 individuals have been detained. The eviction drive in Delhi's Jai Hind Colony in Vasant Kunj has been halted following a court order where light and electricity connection had been cut off by authorities. All of these incidents have been vehemently protested by TMC and the likes of Samirul have tried to help the affected families. As Bengal heads toward another high-stakes election, BJP is doubling down on nationalism, identity and security. Whether that boosts its base or backfires with bureaucratic overreach will depend on perception as much as fact.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Mamata to meet Durga Puja organisers on July 31, launch ‘bhasha andolan' march tomorrow
Ahead of Durga Puja, puja committees in West Bengal are expecting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to increase the financial grant for them, with a crucial meeting of festival organisers with the chief minister scheduled for July 31 at Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium to finalise the plans. The meeting holds immense significance for thousands of big and small Durga Puja committees in Kolkata and other districts. Last year, the Government raised its grant from Rs 75,000 to Rs 85,000 per puja committee. Many feel the chief minister will increase the grant further to Rs 1 lakh in an announcement at the July 31 meeting. The chief minister will preside over the meeting, which is expected to see representatives from approximately 5,000 puja committees, high-ranking police officers, Kolkata's mayor, and officials from the fire department, the Calcutta Electric Supply Corporation, and other agencies. Puja committee officials are eagerly awaiting the day, as the chief minister traditionally announces not only financial aid but also various exemptions for the festival. Checks of the government grant are typically disbursed to committees via local police stations. Political analysts are keenly observing this year's meeting, given its timing ahead of the Assembly elections next year. The Trinamool Congress has seen positive electoral outcomes linked to the puja grants. With the Lok Sabha elections having concluded last year, during which the grant was increased, the potential increase in the grant to 1 lakh just before the Assembly elections is seen by political circles as a strategic move that could positively influence the ballot. Furthermore, the chief minister is said to be leveraging this platform to promote communal harmony. Beyond the financial aspects, the meeting will also provide essential guidelines for various festival preparations, including maintaining cleanliness and ensuring drinking water supply during the puja days. While some puja committees had previously returned the grant in protest over issues like the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, the vast majority have consistently accepted the government's financial assistance. CM Mamata embarks on district tours, starting with Birbhum Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee started a district tour on Sunday, starting with Birbhum. Trinamool Congress sources said the chief minister would arrive in Birbhum on Sunday afternoon. Her itinerary includes an overnight stay at Rangabitan. On July 28, she will hold an administrative meeting at Gitanjali Theatre to review the district's development projects. She is also scheduled to lead a large march to protest against the targeting of Bengali speakers in other states–a 'bhasha andolan' (language agitation) march that she announced on July 21. The march will start from the Tourist Lodge intersection and conclude at the Jambuni bus stand, followed by a speech by the chief minister. On July 29, the chief minister will hold an administrative meeting in Illambazar. She is also expected to inaugurate a bridge built over the Ajay river to improve connectivity between Birbhum and West Burdwan. Additionally, appointment letters for Group D and junior constable posts will be distributed among landowners in the proposed Deuchapachamy coal industry area, and farmers will receive farming equipment. Ahead of the chief minister's visit, district Trinamool Congress chairperson Ashish Banerjee called an emergency core committee meeting at the party's Bolpur office on Thursday.
Indian Express
3 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Decode Politics: As Mamata Banerjee begins a new ‘Bhasha Andolan' from today, a look at key language stirs in the past
Less than a year before the West Bengal Assembly elections, Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee has called for a statewide 'Bhasha Andolan (language movement)' to protest the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking people in the BJP-ruled states. In Bengal, movements centred on language are not new. Historically, both halves of the erstwhile undivided Bengal have seen multiple language agitations. Now, beginning July 27, Mamata will lead the newest iteration of a Bhasha Andolan in the state. Addressing the TMC's 'Shaheed Diwas (Martyrs' Day)' rally on July 21 in Kolkata, Mamata accused the BJP of allegedly unleashing 'linguistic terrorism' against Bengalis and called for a movement against the 'harassment' of Bengali-speaking people in different states. Every year the TMC observes 'Shaheed Diwas' to mark police firing on workers of Bengal Youth Congress, then led by Mamata, in Kolkata on July 21, 1993, in which 13 people were killed. The state was then ruled by the CPI(M)-led Left Front. 'Bangla bhashar upor sontras cholchhe (terror is being unleashed on the Bengali language),' she said. 'Over 1,000 people detained, sent to jails in BJP-ruled states, including Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. This is a conspiracy against the Bengali language. Whoever speaks Bengali is being detained in BJP-ruled states.' The CM said, 'We have over 22 lakh migrants outside Bengal. But there are 1.5 crore migrants working in Bengal. We love Hindi language, we love Gujarati language. But why do you (the BJP) conspire against Bengali language?' Announcing the Bhasha Andolan, Mamata said, 'From July 27, we will hit the streets in protest. Every Saturday and Sunday we will protest in Bengal. I urge our MPs to protest at the Mahatma Gandhi statue in Delhi. Intellectuals and sports personalities would also participate in the protest.' 'Remember, Bengal took part in the freedom struggle… If people are put in jail for speaking the Bengali language, then we will protest. I am not someone who leaves the fight midway. Remember Nandigram fight, remember Singur… The BJP has to be removed from power at the Centre,' said Mamata, referring to the controversial land acquisition projects in Nandigram and Singur under the previous Left government in Bengal. After the Partition of India in August 1947, the newly-formed state of Pakistan was divided into two parts on either side of India – East and West Pakistan. The Bhasha Andolan has its roots in Bangladesh, when it was still known as East Pakistan. Soon afterwards, students and activists began a language movement in East Pakistan, seeking the recognition of Bengali as an official language. The Pakistani government declared Urdu as the sole national language, sparking widespread protests among the Bengali-speaking majority in East Pakistan in the late 1940s and early 1950s. The 'imposition' of Urdu was perceived as an attempt to undermine Bengali culture and identity, and politically marginalise those in East Pakistan. The movement peaked on February 21, 1952, when a peaceful demonstration was met with violent police action, resulting in numerous deaths. After years of unrest, the Pakistani government declared Bengali as an official language in 1956. The significance of the language movement extended beyond its immediate outcome. It is seen as a key moment in the assertion of Bengali cultural and national identity, which played a significant role in the subsequent movement for Bangladesh's independence from Pakistan in 1971. In Bangladesh, February 21 is now commemorated as 'Martyrs' Day' to honour those who were killed during the language movement. In 1999, the UNESCO recognised February 21 as the International Mother Language Day. After Independence, the Bengali-speaking Manbhum district remained part of Bihar whose government declared Hindi as its official language. This sparked an agitation in Manbhum to demand equal status for Bangla or Bengali language. In May 1948, a proposal floated in the Congress party's Manbhum unit to declare Bengali as the official language in the district was defeated by 43-55 votes. Unhappy with the outcome, the district Congress president and secretary, along with 35 other party members, resigned from the party. In June 1948, the Lok Sevak Sangha was founded in Manbhum to fight for Bangla rights and against the imposition of Hindi. This Bhasha Andolan was the first of its kind in India. The then Bihar government had restricted the use of Bengali in education in Manbhum, and went on to ban rallies demanding the recognition of Bangla, which set off fierce protests across the district in the early 1950s. In 1953, the Centre formed a States Reorganisation Commission. After holding hearings in Manbhum, the Commission, in its report submitted in October 1955, proposed the formation of a new Bengali majority district that would fall within West Bengal. So, in November 1956, the Purulia district – spanning 5,200 sq km and with a population of 11.7 lakh – was carved out of Manbhum and inducted in West Bengal. Noted actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty launched a sharp attack at Mamata over her call for a language agitation. '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 alleged that the TMC was attempting to 'manufacture issues' ahead of the 2026 Assembly polls. 'Bengali-speaking people have not faced any kind of unnecessary harassment anywhere in the country. Actually, the TMC is running short of issues before the elections. So the CM is trying to create a false narrative and trying to instigate common people, which she has always done,' he added. State BJP president Samik Bhattacharya claimed that Mamata was more interested in 'protecting Bengali-speaking infiltrators from Bangladesh'. 'Bengali-speaking Indian Muslims in the border areas of West Bengal are losing jobs to Bangladeshi Muslims, who have entered the country illegally. The true Bengali-speaking people are leaving West Bengal in search of jobs, and at times, they are being mistaken for Bangladeshi Muslims. Who is responsible for this? Illegal Rohingyas have been given a place to live in West Bengal. Fake job cards and voter cards are being issued to them. The Election Commission is taking action and deleting such fake voters. But Mamata Banerjee is supporting them for her vote bank politics,' Bhattacharya alleged. Senior CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty also took a jibe at the CM over her proposed stir. 'By calling her fight against the harassment of Bengali-speaking people as 'Bhasha Andolan', Mamata Banerjee has reduced the importance of the actual Bhasha Andolan. Not every fight can be branded as a language movement,' he said.
