Latest news with #MamataBanerjee
New Indian Express
an hour ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
BJP unleashing ‘linguistic terrorism' on Bengalis: Didi
KOLKATA: SETTING the Trinamool Congress' strategy for the West Bengal Assembly elections in 2026, party chief Mamata Banerjee said on Monday that 'harassment' of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states won't be tolerated and directed her party workers to launch a 'language movement' on July 27 which will continue till the polls are over. She also called for ousting the BJP-led government at the Centre after 2026. 'We will get more seats in 2026 and then Delhi will be our next target. We will have to remove the BJP from power,' she said, addressing the TMC's Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata. 'Our fight for identity and language will continue till the BJP is defeated, in the state and at the Centre. From July 27, we will launch a language movement against the BJP's terrorism on Bengali language. The movement will start on Nanoor Divas in West Bengal, protesting attacks on Bengalis and will continue till Assembly polls next year,' she said. Banerjee claimed that fearing development works in Bengal, the BJP is doing politics of deprivation. 'Why have they unleashed terrorism on Bengali language? Bengal fought for independence. The renaissance has come from Bengal. If people of Bengal are arrested outside for speaking Bengali, this fight will take place in Delhi,' the Chief Minister said.
Hans India
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
Nip the language ‘movement' in the bud
'Ifthis linguistic profiling doesn't stop, our resistance movement will reach New Delhi. The ruling party at the Centre is unleashing 'linguistic terrorism' to erase our identity, language, culture and pride,' thundered West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while announcing in the same fiery tone that she would launch 'another language movement on July 27' against the 'Bhasha santras' (linguistic terrorism) and the diabolical game plan unleashed by the NDA government at the Centre. One should note with a pinch of salt that these utterances were not off-the-cuff remarks aimed at gladdening her people but one that could have dangerous ramifications on the morrow. For all one knows, if Banerjee launches the no-holds-barred movement that she has warned of, then there no doubt that this may be the flashpoint for the launch of a full-fledged language movement across the country as the seeds of such 'linguistic revolutions' have been sown in several states, including Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Such a nationwide stir could be the trigger for a major upheaval in the country, one that may not be to anyone's liking. India is a country where caste wars and river water sharing conflicts among two or three states are commonplace and where one gets to read about brutal honour killings every other day. But a fully blown nationwide linguistic battle has the potential to create a civil war-like crisis that could be more macabre than the dark days of emergency, where the targets were only anti-establishment individuals and not any community or states people. But when a linguistic movement takes over the country like a storm, the results can be perilous and create an internal chaos the likes of which are unheard of in independent India. Moreover, the people in the linguistically diverse country in which over a thousand languages are spoken (22 of which enjoy the official language status), have been known to get emotional and sensitive when it comes to issues revolving around language and the mother tongue. This 'touchy' reaction has been exhibited on umpteen occasions, especially in the southern states when the Union government of the day tried to push Hindi in school curriculums. The Hindi versus regional languages issue has been simmering for decades together. And there seems to be no end in sight if one goes by the recent forceful decisions of the NDA government. Tamil Nadu has been on the boil from 1965 onwards against what the people termed as Hindi imposition, and an almost similar anti-Hindi uproar spread to Karnataka. Linguistic agitations have been violent and bloody in several states. The temporary truces following the soft peddling of these dictatorial and draconian policies by the Centre notwithstanding, the fact remains that people from West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra are particularly guarded when it comes to their mother tongue. And they make no bones of it. It is so very sentimental that they hold their respective languages as being more ancient and superior to the one spoken in the neighbouring state. The outrage against Kamal Hasaan's Tamil vs Kannada remark is just an instance among many. The pro-Marathi 'rule' is wreaking havoc in Maharashtra much to the discomfort of millions of non-Marathi speaking population. The NEP policy is yet another bizarre initiative by the NDA government that stands testimony to its highhanded administration and makes a mockery of the country's secular and cosmopolitan credentials. The government must be mature enough and work for a 'united' India if that is what matters for them.
Indian Express
2 hours ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
EC says no to including Aadhaar, voter ID, ration card for revision of Bihar rolls
While it did not accept the Supreme Court's suggestion to consider Aadhaar, Voter ID and ration cards as proof for its ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Bihar, the Election Commission, in a counter-affidavit filed in court on Monday, said it was its 'Constitutional authority' to determine whether the requirement of citizenship is fulfilled by electors, but citizenship of an individual will 'not terminate' on account of being held ineligible as an elector. On July 10, the Supreme Court, while hearing petitions voicing concerns over the SIR in poll-bound Bihar, declined to restrain the EC from proceeding with the SIR but suggested that the poll panel also consider Aadhaar, voter ID and ration cards for the purpose of updating the rolls. It said the EC could file a counter-affidavit by July 21 and the matter be listed for another hearing on July 28. In its counter-affidavit, the EC said Aadhaar does not constitute proof of citizenship, and this has been held by various High Courts. 'Aadhaar has not been included in the list of 11 documents provided in the enumeration form, as it does not help in screening the eligibility under Article 326. However, this is not to say that Aadhaar cannot be used to supplement other documents to prove eligibility,' it said. The EC's enumeration form comes printed with the electors' EPIC number and an optional Aadhaar column. The EC also noted that there has been 'widespread issuance of bogus ration cards', and though Aadhaar-seeding has helped, problems still persist. The EC cited a press release issued by the government on March 7 that said the Centre had removed over 5 crore fake ration card holders. On voters' cards, the EC said: '…the EPIC (electors photo identity card), by its very nature, merely reflects the current state of the electoral roll and cannot, in itself, establish antecedent eligibility for inclusion in the roll.' The EC reiterated that the list of 11 documents was indicative and not exhaustive, so the Electoral Registration Officers could consider all documents presented by electors. The EC's June 24 order required all existing 7.8 crore electors in Bihar to fill enumeration forms by July 25 to remain on the rolls. For those added to the electoral rolls after January 1, 2003, when the last intensive revision was carried out in Bihar, the EC has specified additional documents to establish eligibility. The exercise has led to concern among political parties and civil society groups that genuine electors may get disenfranchised as they may not be able to produce one of the 11 documents prescribed by EC. Several petitions have been filed in the Supreme Court, including by the Association for Democratic Reforms and Opposition leaders. Opposition leaders, including West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, have raised concerns that the exercise would amount to preparing a National Register of Citizens (NRC) through the back door. The court, in its July 10 hearing, had observed that determination of citizenship was the Ministry of Home Affairs' domain. 'Under the SIR exercise, the citizenship of an individual will not terminate on account of the fact that he/ she is held to be ineligible for registration in the electoral rolls,' the EC said. The EC said its powers to scrutinise the qualifications flowed from Articles 324 and 326, which pertain to its powers of superintendence over elections and electoral rolls, and the eligibility for electors. 'However, it is reiterated, that determination of non-eligibility of anyone under Article 326 will not lead to cancellation of citizenship,' it said. Responding to the petitioners' argument that it was the Central government that was empowered to determine citizenship and not the EC, the Commission said when it came to inclusion in the electoral roll, it was well within its powers to ask for proof. 'The exclusive powers of the Central Government under Section 9 [Citizenship Act, 1955] are confined to reviewing the acquisition of foreign citizenship and whether, based on such acquisition, citizenship of a person should be terminated. This is the scope and mandate of the prevalent laws in force,' it said. The EC said that for those covered under Section 3 of the Act (citizenship by birth), Section 9 (renunciation of citizenship) and Section 10 (termination of citizenship) don't apply. 'Therefore, the ECI is fully competent to require a person claiming citizenship by birth to produce relevant documents for inclusion in the electoral roll,' it said. As per its order, the EC has asked all those not on the 2003 electoral roll to submit documents as per their age. For individuals born before July 1, 1987, documents establishing their date and/ or place of birth are required; for individuals born between July 1, 1987 and December 2, 2004, documents for themselves and one parent are required; and for individuals born after December 2, 2004, documents for themselves and both parents are needed. While the EC had not specified the reason for this distinction, it said in its counter-affidavit that 'Section 3 [Citizenship Act] is the basis for segregation of age groups in the enumeration form'. 'In the absence of a specific exclusion, as in Sections 9 and 10 of the Citizenship Act, 1955, it is submitted that the ECI, being a constitutional body, would have constitutional authority to determine whether the constitutional requirement of citizenship has been fulfilled by a person claiming the right to be included in the electoral roll. It is also submitted… the Citizenship Act, 1955, ought not to be understood as taking away the constitutional authority of ECI, as a parliamentary law cannot take away the said power. Moreover, conferment of delegated authority under a parliamentary law cannot detract from the authority of the ECl conferred by the COI [Constitution of India]. Any denial of such authority would result in inclusion of illegal immigrants and foreigners in the electoral rolls,' the EC said. The EC also defended placing the burden of proof on the electors. 'That in so far as the burden to prove citizenship is concerned, it is submitted that the necessary documents required to establish citizenship are within the special knowledge of the individual claiming to be a citizen of India. Given the nature of this evidence and the fact that such evidence should/ ought to be within the personal knowledge of the individual concerned and not of the authorities of State, it is incumbent on the said individual to provide such proof,' it said. The Commission also drew a distinction between the burden of proof for the purpose of registration as an elector and when citizenship is under scrutiny. It noted that it was 'well within its jurisdiction to conduct an SIR of the electoral roll' and that the process had multiple layers of checks to ensure that no elector is deleted without due process. On the need for such an exercise now, the EC said since there has not been an intensive revision in the past two decades, though summary revisions have been held annually, there was a need for a 'more rigorous and foundational exercise'. It said many political parties had raised concerns over the inaccuracies in the electoral rolls. 'These concerns arise from the limitations of the summary revision process which does not require fresh preparation of electoral rolls. In response, and to restore public confidence in the integrity of the electoral roll, the Commission has initiated the SIR. Unlike summary revisions, the SIR involves a complete, ground-up preparation of the electoral rolls to ensure accuracy, transparency, and inclusion,' the EC said.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
'Bengal first' as focus, Didi calls for language movement
Mamata Banerjee KOLKATA: TMC's 2026 assembly election strategy is likely to focus on tapping Bengal-first sentiment of the state's 7.6 crore voters. The party's last Martyrs' Day rally before assembly polls showcased Bengali migrant workers "harassed in BJP-governed states and Bengal residents facing NRC queries" as CM Mamata Banerjee called for a renewed "Bhasha Andolan (language movement)" from next week. "Hold meetings and rallies every weekend to protest the attack on your language," she urged supporters at Esplanade Monday. Banerjee asked TMC MPs to protest on Parliament campus "violence against Bengal" and urged sportspersons and "people from cultural background" to join in. She retooled the 2021 "Khela Hobe" slogan with phrases like "bowl them (BJP) out" and "hit them for a six" - fusing Bengal's sporting passions with political mobilisation. Banerjee also targeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he is "controlled by America". "Why did you fail to get POK? Where was your protest when US sent planes full of Indians back?" she asked, calling for "paribartan at Centre".
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
800 KMC workers clean up rally leftovers in an hour
Kolkata: Esplanade and other parts of central Kolkata, where lakhs of party supporters congregated to attend the Shahid Diwas programme on Monday, were up and running within an hour of the programme ending. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now CM Mamata Banerjee concluded her address at 2.30 pm, and despite the scale of the gathering, traffic movement was systematically restored in phases. According to KMC, 800 workers, including 100 in Esplanade alone, were deployed to clear up the roads on a war-footing. The volunteers ensured that the crowd dispersed without creating any chaos. Buses ferrying workers were parked on Central Avenue, College Street, and BB Ganguly Street. By 3.15 pm, the southbound flank of Central Avenue at the Esplanade crossing was opened to traffic. "Once we ensured crowd dispersal and pedestrian safety, we immediately opened the southbound flank for vehicles," said a traffic sergeant. "As workers dismantled the dais, we rerouted northbound vehicles through the same flank to prevent congestion. " By 4.30 pm, both flanks of Central Avenue were operational, with a small section near the dais cordoned off for the final dismantling of the stage. Roads that had remained closed during the programme as lakhs of workers assembled there were fully open to traffic by 4.30 pm. Workers loaded the guard rails onto big lorries and immediately cleared the roads for. As soon as the programme ended, KMC teams began clean-up operations across the Maidan area, Esplanade, and surrounding roads. A senior official from the solid waste management department of KMC said, "Our teams were stationed across the city and were activated immediately after the programme. Special focus was on clearing the vicinity of the main stage and the Maidan. " Many workers who had come from the districts cooked their meals on pavements leading to Esplanade. The conservancy workers cleaned up the garbage left behind. Multiple conservancy teams were also deployed at Geetanjali stadium, Uttirno, and several accommodation points in north and central Kolkata where outstation party workers stayed overnight.
