Bangladesh High Commissioner to meet Mamata Banerjee amid cultural row and border tensions
Chief Minister Banerjee had earlier written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to engage with the Bangladesh government for a thorough investigation into the incident, which she termed a matter of international concern and cultural sensitivity.
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The Hindu
8 hours ago
- The Hindu
Mamata Banerjee to lead protest in Kolkata on July 16 against targeting of migrants
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lead a protest rally in Kolkata on July 16 in response to what the Trinamool Congress described as the continued targeting of migrants from the State in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled States. The party will simultaneously organise demonstrations across West Bengal on the same day. 'If the Bengali language is insulted, if a Bengali is called Bangladeshi, it will not be tolerated at all. We will take to the streets under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee,' senior Trinamool leader and Minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said on Sunday (July 13, 2025). The announcement assumes significance as the Trinamool Congress typically refrains from holding major programmes in the lead-up to its annual Martyrs' Day Rally on July 21. However, recent reports of alleged mistreatment of Bengali-speaking migrants in Odisha, Delhi, and Maharashtra appear to have prompted the party to initiate this protest mobilisation. The ruling party in West Bengal stated that the protest was not merely political but a broader campaign to safeguard the 'culture, identity, and honour' of the State. Trinamool MPs Sagarika Ghosh and Saket Gokhale visited Jai Hind Colony in Delhi on Sunday, where concerns had reportedly been raised over the treatment of Bengali migrants. Chief Minister Banerjee, over the past few weeks, has repeatedly condemned what she described as attempts to label Bengali-speaking individuals as 'outsiders' or 'Bangladeshis'. 'Speaking in Bengali does not make a person Bangladeshi,' she has asserted, adding that Bengali is a constitutionally recognised language and that every citizen has the right to speak in their native tongue. Meanwhile, Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam drew attention to the case of Arati Ghosh, a 52-year-old woman from Boxirhat in Cooch Behar district, who was reportedly labelled a foreigner and excluded from the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam. According to Mr. Islam, Ms. Ghosh had to leave her in-laws' home in Assam and return to West Bengal. 'I want to raise some questions for the anti-Bengali BJP leadership, who often dare to claim their love and respect for Bengal — a claim that is nothing but a vile falsehood,' Mr. Islam said.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Didi to lead July 16 rally against B'deshi tag on Bengalis
1 2 3 Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee will lead a protest against the tagging of Bengali-speaking migrant workers Bangladeshis, their illegal detentions and occasional deportations to Bangladesh by BJP-governed states, Trinamool said on Sunday. The rally will take place on July 16 at 1pm and go from College Square to Dorina Crossing. Protests will be held across Bengal between 2pm and 4pm as well as in Delhi. Trinamool, in a statement, has urged all Bengalis to join the protest to stand up for Bengal's pride. Speaking to reporters at Trinamool Bhawan, state finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said, "Wherever you go, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi — all BJP-governed — if you dare to speak in Bengali, you will automatically be labelled Bangladeshi." You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "You are not a citizen of India; they are being told. What law is this? They hurt Bengali pride. What country do these people live in? Which party is there at the Centre and these states that are organising such crimes? These illegalities are being promoted by BJP-headed state govts, who are being helped by the Centre," she added. "Delhi is the capital of India, and this illegality is being perpetrated in Delhi, right under the nose of the Centre. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Cách giao dịch ETH/USD mà không cần nắm giữ Ether IC Markets Tìm hiểu thêm Undo Poor people are being evicted because they speak Bengali. They cannot have electricity. They cannot have water. These poor people are pleading that they have photo ID cards. But they are being told nothing can be done, it is a crime to speak in Bengali," Bhattacharya said. "You saw what happened in Odisha? You are curbing fundamental rights of movement, livelihood? Who gives you the right to work against constitutional guarantees," she continued. "This on one hand and on the other is NRC. It is being said that if one speaks in Bengali, they cannot stay in India. Who is this Assam CM who says that speaking Bengali can determine how many foreigners stay (in Assam)? We would like to ask the Assam CM to read the history books again. Before dubbing Bengalis foreigners, he should know that this land has produced more freedom fighters that he can name," the minister said. She called upon "all the people of Bengal to unite and participate in the rally." "CM Mamata Banerjee has always been at the forefront protesting this. She has spoken and written about it. She has also spoken to the Centre about it. This is about Bengal's pride. We will never tolerate this insult," Bhattacharya said.
Hindustan Times
8 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Mamata Banerjee to lead Kolkata protest on July 16 over migrant harassment row
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lead a TMC procession in Kolkata on July 16 to protest against the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking migrants outside the state, a minister said on Sunday. TMC leaders, workers, and supporters from Howrah, Bhangar, Dum Dum, and Salt Lake will participate in the rally.(HT Photo) The two-km march will begin from College Square in the northern part of the city around 1 pm on Wednesday and culminate at Dorina Crossing in central Kolkata, state finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said. "Trinamool Congress leaders, workers, and supporters from Howrah, Bhangar, Dum Dum, and Salt Lake will participate in the rally to protest against the incidents of harassment against Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states," Bhattacharya said. Also Read | Row over freedom fighters called 'terrorists' in Bengal university paper; VC blames 'printing mistake' Protest rallies will also be organised across districts between 2 pm and 4 pm on Wednesday, with another programme planned in New Delhi, she said. Bhattacharya condemned alleged incidents of harassment of Bengalis in Odisha and Delhi's Jai Hind Colony. Allegations have been made that Bengali residents in several BJP-ruled states were facing discrimination, stoppage of supplies of essential services like water and electricity and threats of the NRC implementation even after proper identities were provided. Also Read | Suvendu Adhikari's call for avoiding Muslim-majority areas stokes row in West Bengal "This is an attack on Bengali identity and dignity," Bhattacharya said, accusing the central government of being inactive and insensitive to these allegations. "Mamata Banerjee has always stood up against injustice, and she will do so again," the state minister said. BJP leader and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar described this as "TMC's ploy to play the 'Bengali card' as the ruling party wants to divert the attention of the common people ahead of elections". "The TMC plays with Bengali sentiment when they need to divert attention from something, or the election is nearing. But this time it will not be that easy to befool the Bengalis because they have understood its tricks," Majumdar claimed.
