
Mamata Banerjee to lead Kolkata protest on July 16 over migrant harassment row
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.
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
17 minutes ago
- Time of India
BJP ally TDP seeks clarity on SIR, says exercise shouldn't link to citizenship or burden voters
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel New Delhi: Taking a contrarian view on the Special Intensive Revision ( SIR ) of electoral roll , key NDA ally Telugu Desam Party ( TDP ) said the purpose of the exercise should be clearly defined and delinked from citizenship verification , wrapped up at least six months before elections and the burden of proof should not be on the a four-page representation submitted to the Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday, TDP sought clarity on the SIR's purpose -- a move seen as a guarded way of questioning the on-going exercise in openly criticising SIR, TDP has made four submissions which are against the current approach of ECI. TDP, whose 16 MPs provide crucial support to BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, has sought clarity on the "scope of SIR" and wants it to be completely delinked from the citizenship question. "The purpose of SIR must be clearly defined and limited to electoral roll correction and inclusion. It should be explicitly communicated that the exercise is not related to citizenship verification, and any field instructions must reflect this distinction," reads the TDP representation. It said adequate time should be given for such an exercise and it should take place "ideally not within six months of any major election". This is contrary to what is underway in Bihar, where a new assembly will be in place by November-end and SIR is underway with elections just three months documentation, TDP stated, "Voters who are already enrolled in the most recent certified electoral roll should not be required to re-establish their eligibility unless specific and verifiable reasons are recorded." TDP has sought to make a distinction between intensive roll revision and electoral roll revision and suggested that the last electoral roll revision be made the base year. This means that for Bihar it should be the electoral roll revision of January 2025 which should be the base year, not 2003. It cited a Supreme Court judgement in Lal Babu Hussein vs Electoral Registration Officer to say "prior inclusion created a presumption of validity and any deletion must be preceded by a valid inquiry."In the Bihar SIR, the ECI sought proof and asked voters to fill a form to ensure inclusion. However, TDP representation said: "The burden of proof lies with ERO or objector, not the voter, especially when the name exists on the official roll".


Time of India
20 minutes ago
- Time of India
In Maharashtra legislative council, BJP and Shiv Sena tussle over unauthorised constructions in Ratnagiri district
Mumbai: In a clear tussle between Mahayuti alliance partners BJP and Shiv Sena, Pravin Darekar, the BJP group leader in the legislative council, raised the issue of unauthorised constructions at various places in Ratnagiri district. Industries minister Uday Samant of Shiv Sena is the MLA from Ratnagiri and also the district guardian minister. Darekar, through a calling attention motion, pointed to large-scale unauthorised constructions in the vicinity of the watchtower built by Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj at the southern foothills of Ratnadurg Fort in Ratnagiri. He further alleged that the municipal corporation constructed a public toilet on the road leading to the tower for the convenience of 'encroachers', thereby defiling this historical area. "Local politicians and public representatives are encouraging these encroachments, while the Ratnagiri Municipal Corporation administration has not taken any action," he said. Darekar further stated that in the Rajapur Municipal Corporation area, a 150-year-old ancient Sun temple exists, which was built in Hindu architectural style during the Satvahan dynasty. "Unauthorised multi-storied construction has taken place on the temple premises with the Rajapur Municipal Corporation failing to take any action," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Is it legal? How to get Internet without paying a subscription? Techno Mag Learn More Undo In Khed city, an unauthorised Muslim Community Center and mosque have been constructed at Gulmohar Park without obtaining permission from the municipal corporation or home department, he added. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai Samant firmly denied the allegations. "I have spoken to officials and archaeological experts. No Sun temple exists in the area, nor is there any community centre. So there is no question of deleting the community centre," he said. As both Darekar and Samant stood firm on their respective stances, BJP MLC Prasad Lad tried to intervene, suggesting Samant inform when the Development Plan would be ready and order an inquiry into the illegal constructions. Samant, however, said the Development Plan was currently under preparation and no time frame could be set. He also refused to order an inquiry.


The Hindu
30 minutes ago
- The Hindu
BJP celebrates CAT order on Urdu clause for Naib-Tehsildar posts in J&K
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday (July 15, 2025) held celebrations in Jammu and Kashmir over the Central Administrative Tribunal's (CAT) decision to drop Urdu as a mandatory qualification for candidates applying to Naib-Tehsildar posts in the Union Territory. A bench of the CAT's Jammu Bench, comprising Rajinder Dogra and Ram Mohan Johri, on Monday stayed the operation of provisions in the Jammu and Kashmir Revenue (Subordinate) Service Recruitment Rules of 2009, which stipulated graduation with knowledge of Urdu as a minimum qualification for the post. The tribunal directed the Jammu and Kashmir Services Selection Board (JKSSB) to accept applications from candidates with knowledge of any of the five official languages listed in Jammu and Kashmir. Following the order, the JKSSB on Tuesday deferred the process of inviting applications for the posts. Under the Official Languages Act, 2020, enacted during Central rule, Hindi, Kashmiri, English, Dogri, and Urdu were declared as official languages in Jammu and Kashmir. Prior to the reorganisation of the former State in 2019, Urdu was the sole official language. Celebrations were held at Srinagar's Ghanta Ghar by the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha, where its president Arun Prabhat welcomed the tribunal's order. He said the government's earlier notification to continue with Urdu as a mandatory subject was discriminatory. 'The notice was anti-Constitution. Our Constitution preamble with Article 14 and 16 are for equal opportunity for all and against any discrimination on the basis of colour, creed or caste. The J&K government notice was discriminatory to four out of five languages declared as official languages here,' Mr. Prabhat said. Reacting to the development, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) leader and legislator Waheed Ur Rehman Para accused the BJP of politicising the Urdu language and 'injecting communal overtones into the discourse around Jammu and Kashmir's linguistic heritage'. 'BJP's attempt to view Urdu through a communal lens marks a dangerous and disgraceful new low in our political discourse in J&K. Urdu is not a symbol of any religion but the throbbing pulse of Jammu & Kashmir's identity, echoing collective memories and soulful struggles of our people over centuries,' Mr. Para said in a post on social media platform X. He said that Urdu is the language of poets, courts, revenue offices, administration, and everyday life in Jammu and Kashmir. 'Even more disturbing is the CAT's order staying the requirement of basic Urdu knowledge for the Naib Tehsildar exam — a signal that judicial forums too are beginning to cave under political pressure,' he added. The PDP, Mr. Para said, stood for the preservation of the region's linguistic and cultural identity. 'Urdu must be preserved, not just as a language, but as an embodiment of our shared heritage, administrative continuity & cultural essence that binds every region of J&K together.'