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NDTV
03-08-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"Insulting": Mamata Banerjee On Delhi Police Terming Bengali As "Bangladeshi National Language"
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee on Sunday lashed out at the Delhi Police for referring to the Bengali language as "Bangladeshi national language" in a purported letter, alleging that it was "insulting, anti-national and unconstitutional". The letter, linked to an investigation of a case under the 'Foreigners' Act', was written to the officer-in-charge of Banga Bhawan, the official guest house of the state government in the national capital. The Trinamool Congress supremo described the Centre as anti-Bengali and urged all to stage protests against such "anti-Constitutional language to insult and humiliate Bengali-speaking people of India". "See now how Delhi Police under the direct control of the Ministry of Home, Government of India, is describing Bengali as "Bangladeshi" language!" Banerjee posted on her Facebook account, sharing a copy of the letter. Banerjee said that Bengali is not only her mother tongue but also the language of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda. She also said that Bengali was the language in which both India's national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana' by Tagore and national song 'Vande Mataram' by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay were written. "... the language in which crores of Indians speak and write, the language which is sanctified and recognised by the Constitution of India, is now described as a Bangladeshi language!!" Banerjee said. "Scandalous, insulting, anti-national, unconstitutional!! This insults all Bengali-speaking people of India. They cannot use this kind of language, which degrades and debases us all. We urge immediate, strongest possible protests from all against the anti-Bengali Government of India who are using such anti-Constitutional language to insult and humiliate the Bengali-speaking people of India," she said. Earlier in the day, the TMC posted a letter, in its X handle, claiming that the police officer in charge of the investigation has written to the Banga Bhawan in the national capital, seeking a translator for "Bangladeshi national language" following the arrest of eight people, suspected to have illegally crossed over into India from the neighbouring country.
Time of India
03-08-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Terming Bengali as 'Bangladeshi national language' in Delhi Police letter insulting: Mamata Banerjee
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee on Sunday lashed out at the Delhi Police for referring to the Bengali language as "Bangladeshi national language" in a purported letter, alleging that it was "insulting, anti-national and unconstitutional". The letter, linked to an investigation of a case under the 'Foreigners' Act', was written to the officer-in-charge of Banga Bhawan , the official guest house of the state government in the national capital. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Technology Public Policy Artificial Intelligence MCA Leadership Design Thinking MBA Data Analytics Management healthcare others Project Management Product Management PGDM Healthcare Finance Operations Management Digital Marketing Cybersecurity Data Science Others Degree CXO Data Science Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks MIT xPRO CERT-MIT XPRO Building AI Prod India Starts on undefined Get Details The Trinamool Congress supremo described the Centre as anti-Bengali and urged all to stage protests against such "anti-Constitutional language to insult and humiliate Bengali-speaking people of India". "See now how Delhi Police under the direct control of the Ministry of Home, Government of India, is describing Bengali as "Bangladeshi" language!" Banerjee posted on her Facebook account, sharing a copy of the letter. Banerjee said that Bengali is not only her mother tongue but also the language of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda. Live Events She also said that Bengali was the language in which both India's national anthem, 'Jana Gana Mana' by Tagore and national song 'Vande Mataram' by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay were written. "... the language in which crores of Indians speak and write, the language which is sanctified and recognised by the Constitution of India, is now described as a Bangladeshi language!!" Banerjee said. "Scandalous, insulting, anti-national, unconstitutional!! This insults all Bengali-speaking people of India. They cannot use this kind of language, which degrades and debases us all. We urge immediate, strongest possible protests from all against the anti-Bengali Government of India who are using such anti-Constitutional language to insult and humiliate the Bengali-speaking people of India," she said. Earlier in the day, the TMC posted a letter, in its X handle, claiming that the police officer in charge of the investigation has written to the Banga Bhawan in the national capital, seeking a translator for "Bangladeshi national language" following the arrest of eight people, suspected to have illegally crossed over into India from the neighbouring country.
Time of India
31-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Didi hikes grants for Durga Puja organisers, says stand by migrants
Mamta Banerjee (File photo) KOLKATA: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday combined an enhanced handout for Durga Puja organisers this year with an appeal to them to stand by migrant labourers returning home because of harassment in BJP-governed states. Banerjee, reminding everyone of their social responsibility, asked clubs and puja organisers as well as the local administration to "give new clothes to those returning because of torture and harassment". "Everything has been snatched from them. We do not tolerate this torture nor do we believe in torturing others," Banerjee said, referring to the plight of Bengali-speaking migrant workers. The CM announced an increased state grant of Rs 1.1 lakh for Durga Puja committees in Bengal, up from last year's Rs 85,000, and Rs 70,000 in 2023. Concessions on electricity bills, too, have been increased to 80% (it was 75% last year). And, like last year, the state fire department will not levy any charge. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "Some people claim that Mamata Banerjee does not allow pujas. Every household celebrates puja here. There is no puja that does not happen in Bengal. But, then, some people even go to court questioning why there should be assistance for pujas. This is a festival but it is a means of livelihood for so many as well. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like TV providers are furious: this gadget gives you access to all channels Techno Mag Learn More Undo Youngsters from every neighbourhood leave their household chores to focus on themes to make their pujas successful. One puja ends and they start planning for another," she said, referring to the commerce around the festive season. Puja organisers backed the the CM's stance. The hiked payout to 43,000-plus puja organisers will cost the state exchequer around Rs 473 crore (up from last year's Rs 365.5 crore). "But the money circulates in the market. It contributes to the Durga Puja economy, which may be around Rs 80,000 crore now," Saswata Bose, general secretary of Forum for Durgotsav, an umbrella organisation representing all major Durga Puja organisers, said. Chief minister Mamta Banerjee announced that the carnival would be held on October 5, a day before Lakshmi Puja. Immersions will start on Oct 2 and end on Oct 4 (except for the pujas invited to the carnival). Kolkata police commissioner Manoj Verma announced that the single-window Asaan Durga Puja permission portal would be up and running from Aug 22.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
BJP state governments illegally detaining Bengali-speaking people: CM Mamata Banerjee
FIle photo: West Bengal CM Mamta Banerjee KOLKATA: Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee accused BJP-governed states of imposing a "super-Emergency" by targeting and illegally detaining Bengali-speaking people, claiming her govt had received nearly 1,000 such complaints since June. "I'm extremely sorry, hurt and heartbroken. People are being tortured just for speaking in their mother tongue," she said Wednesday at a rally in Kolkata after leading a Trinamool Congress march in steady rain. "The people of Bengal have chosen me. The people of Bengal will politically detain BJP in elections if they are put in detention camps. There will be retaliation if there are attacks, I will respond. I warn you today," the chief minister said. Bengali migrant workers have faced detention and deportation in a drive, particularly in Odisha and Maharashtra , against illegal Bangladeshi immigrants. The workers claim they have valid documents such as Aadhaar and voter ID cards to prove their Indian citizenship. But authorities have allegedly demanded birth certificates and other documents, which many migrant workers lack. Bengal is compiling the full number of such detentions, Banerjee said, adding that she would not tolerate Bengali-speakers being labelled as either Bangladeshi or Rohingya.
Hindustan Times
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Ahead of assembly polls: Amit Shah's ‘Mission Tamil Nadu'
The rehearsals for the assembly elections 2026 have begun with the recent visit of the Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Tamil Nadu last week. The stated objective is to review the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s preparedness and strengthening of ties with its allies. There is a marked difference in the tone and confidence of the BJP in approaching the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. The hard push from the above is for all to witness with the grand bargains and negotiations underway with friends and allies. There are divergent perspectives about the prospects and limitations because of the ground realities. Amit Shah's attack against the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its leadership conveys the similar disdain and antipathy that BJP holds against Mamta Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal. He has gone on record stating that both TMC in West Bengal and DMK in Tamil Nadu will be defeated in the next assembly elections. Amit Shah also reiterated with the same intensity that the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) led by BJP will form the next government in Tamil Nadu. Though the ground realities in Tamil Nadu and West Bengal are vastly different, the BJP's aggressive approach to the Tamil Nadu assembly elections 2026 cannot be overlooked. There are inter-party conflicts and intra-party issues within the NDA alliance consisting of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), Desia Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK), Puthiya Tamizhagam (PT) and the BJP itself. There are core concerns about the electoral ties between the BJP and AIADMK over critical issues of alliance leadership and the AIADMK factional politics stirred and preserved by the BJP. There are hurdles and uncertainties that cannot be pushed aside with Edappadi Palanisamy remaining unmoved over the role, leadership and seat share within the NDA alliance. And his lack of enthusiasm for the reconciliation with O Paneerselvam, Sasiskala and TD Dinakaran is a matter of pragmatic challenge of electoral coordination. BJP's major challenge in Tamil Nadu is not how to run its own party but how to control and influence the AIADMK leadership as well as manage the contradictions of the factional politics. The family feud within the PMK reflecting the father-son duel and the rupture in the ties between AIADMK and DMDK are not favourable conditions for the NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu. Then why does Amit Shah talk aggressive about the change of regime in Tamil Nadu? All said and done about the shortcomings in the BJP-AIADMK alliance, BJP has been developing a parallel strategy of challenging the DMK with or without an alliance with the AIADMK. BJP has also been focusing on strengthening the organsiational machinery in Tamil Nadu. Amit Shah's meeting with the party office bearers from the state, district and mandal levels is reaffirming this objective. First, this is the real meaning of 'Mission Tamil Nadu' by overtaking the AIADMK not only as an alternative to the DMK but to redefine the electoral game in Tamil Nadu beyond the major Dravidian parties and their allies. Edappadi Palanisamy understands this ploy more than others but is helpless with his own party and flanks broken. Secondly, the BJP is not hesitant to use and apply the religious card to sway the voters like the Lord Murugan Devotees Conference scheduled next week this month. The Madurai Meenakshi Amman temple becoming a runway for the political campaign in the forthcoming assembly elections in 2026 is part of a larger design to draw the Hindu votes and spread a north centric political narrative in Tamil Nadu politics. This is also another version of BJP's growing involvement in Durga Puja festival in West Bengal in order to identify and broaden the socio-cultural basis for the party in West Bengal. BJP is keen to strengthen its presence and build stakes in Tamil Nadu politics based on the strength of its power at the Centre and the challenge of the final frontier to extend Hindutva politics. The party is more confident after its success in Odisha and Delhi and wants to push itself against the DMK with a belief that DMK is no longer invincible with an aggression matching its methods in West Bengal. There is a need to pause and reflect on the prospects and limitations of this aggressive posture and strategy in Tamil Nadu politics. The socio-political and historical roots of communal polarisation in West Bengal are vastly different from Tamil Nadu and the BJP's strategy to mobilise voters on religious cards may not be successful. There are significant issues like the language question, challenges of delimitation, the role and functioning of NITI Aayog (National Institute for Transforming India) and the Centre-state relations needs more attention and understanding to go into the electoral battle of 2026. ( Manivannan is a scholar-social activist in areas of education, human rights and sustainable development through an initiative 'Multiversity.')
