Martyrs' Day Rally: Abhishek sets poll tone: ‘BJP forced to chant Joy Bangla, now lotus will be uprooted from Bengal'
Addressing the TMC's mega annual Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata's Dharamtala area, Abhishek said the decision to call the BJP a 'Banglar Birodhi' (anti-Bengal) party ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections was to 'expose' its true character.
'Jonotar Gorjon, Bangla-Birodhider Bishorjon (the cry of people, immersion of anti-Bengal party) wasn't just a political slogan but the exposure of BJP's real character,' he said.
Taking forward party supremo and aunt Mamata Banerjee's offensive against the main Opposition party in the state over the harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in BJP-ruled states, the Diamond Harbour MP said: 'The BJP wants to take Bengalis to detention camps for speaking their language. I want to tell them clearly — after the 2026 elections, it is you whom we will send to the detention camps after defeating you democratically.'
Without taking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's name, he said BJP leaders who used to chant 'Jai Shri Ram' slogan are now saying 'Jai Ma Durga', 'Jai Ma Kali' under pressure.
Last week, PM Modi at a BJP rally in Durgapur began his speech by invoking Goddesses Durga and Kali.
'This is the victory of the Trinamool Congress. This is the victory of the people of Bengal. The very people of Bengal whom they wanted to starve, the BJP leaders are now bowing before them and chanting Joy Maa Kali and Joy Maa Durga. This is the victory of 12 crore farmers, labourers, youth, adivasis and the victory of the culture and heritage of Bengal.'
'They (the BJP government at the Centre) used Income Tax to target Durga Puja committees and stop Durga Puja. They insulted Durga Puja, and now in this very land of Bengal, they have to stand and say Joy Maa Durga, instead of Jay Shri Ram. Mark my words, in 10 months, they will have to chant 'Joy Bangla',' the 37-year-old MP from Diamond Harbour said.
He also accused the BJP of insulting the Bangla language and Bengal, 'which showed the way to the country during the freedom struggle and the renaissance'.
'Our poets and legends, Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore and Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, gave a face to the soul of the country through their works. The freedom fighters of Bengal like Rash Behari Bose, Bagha Jatin, and Khudiram Bose set an example with their fight not only in Bengal but across the Indian subcontinent. But the BJP insults the language they spoke,' Abhishek said to huge applause.
He also lashed out against Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for allegedly targeting Bengali-speaking citizens in his state and calling them Bangladeshis. 'A fortnight has passed since the Assam CM, sitting on an elected Constitutional chair, spoke against Bengalis. I want to know what disciplinary steps the BJP central leaders have taken against him. I appeal to our MPs to speak in Bengali in the current Parliament session, if required, and dare them to silence us,' he said.
'Why is the BJP so irritated if someone speaks Bengali? Is it because they couldn't win in Bengal? Bengalis take immense pride in their mother tongue and should enhance the frequency of speaking in Bangla manifold… You (BJP) think you can bend the TMC and people of Bengal according to your will? We were born in Bengal, not in Gujarat or UP, and we will neither bow before you nor sell our spines or surrender,' he added.
Maintaining that Bengal doesn't discriminate among citizens of this country on the grounds of religion, language, food habits or customs, the TMC leader warned that if the divisive powers wanted to play with fire, then they would be the first to get smouldered by the flames. 'Do not suffer from the complacency that Trinamool will win no matter what because we have Mamata Banerjee to lead us. Of course, she will guide us. But you have to fight the battle on the ground and ensure that you do not concede an inch of land to those who have continuously hurt our self-respect,' Banerjee told party workers.
Asserting that the TMC will come to power in West Bengal for the fourth consecutive term, the TMC leader, referring to BJP's poll symbol, the lotus, said: 'Before 2021 (Assembly polls), we used the slogan of 'Khela Hobe' (the game is on). This time we are saying, 'Poddo Phool Upre Fela Hobe' (the lotus flower will be uprooted).'
(With PTI Inputs)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Indian Express
23 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Gujarat Confidential: ‘Right' Prasad
The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has awarded the 'Eat Right Prasad' certificate to mohanthal prasad provided to devotees by the Ambaji Temple trust. Stating that it is a matter of pride for Gujarat, the state government attributed the 'achievement' to the 'quality and cleanliness' of the prasad provided to devotees by the temple trust and the disciplined functioning of the temple. 'This success has been achieved under the guidance and leadership of Shree Arasuri Ambaji Mata Devasthan Trust and Additional Collector Kaushik Modi,' it stated. In 2023, the mohanthal prasad, made of gram flour, ghee and sugar, landed in controversy and was replaced by chikki, citing longer shelf life and reports of alleged adulteration that followed. The Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) also seized ghee from the firm, which was given the contract to make the prasad. 'Eat Right Prasad' certificate is awarded to religious places, which follows strict standards of food safety, hygiene and quality while preparing and distributing prasad. Councillors' Protest Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) councillors, during a general board meeting of the Surat Municipal Corporation on Tuesday, protested against the issue of creek floods in the city by showing up in mud-soaked clothes. The councillors, including Leader of Opposition Payal Sakariya, also raised slogans against the ruling BJP, blaming the party for the situation in Surat. AAP councillor Dharmesh Bhanderi said, 'Our motive behind attending the general board meeting in mud-soaked clothes is to register our protest against the ruling BJP, as they have failed to guard Surat against creek floods. Surat witnesses creek floods every year, and the ruling party has no solution. The flood-affected people have to shift from their houses to other places.'
The Hindu
23 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Danger of thought: on the Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill
The Maharashtra Special Public Security (MSPS) Bill, 2024 follows the disturbing pattern of executive overreach in the name of security. Existing laws are often misused against political opponents and critics of the ruling party, including commentators. Charges are often vague and sweeping, and the process itself becomes the punishment in many of these cases. Given this pattern, the move by Maharashtra's Mahayuti government led by the BJP to create an entire law to criminalise a certain kind of thought portends danger to freedom and democracy. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has said that the new law would only target those who try to undermine the constitutional order, but the possibility — indeed the probability — of its misuse is apparent. The State says that it is seeking to prevent Maoists from brainwashing youth, professionals, and civil servants through front organisations. As in the proposed law, which is now awaiting the assent of the Governor before coming into force, the State government can declare any suspect 'organisation' as an 'unlawful organisation'. Offences under the proposed law include membership of such organisations, fundraising on their behalf, managing or assisting them, and committing unlawful activities. The Bill's focus is on people and organisations that act as a front for Maoists, and what is unlawful is so broadly defined that anyone can be its target. Among other things, according to the Bill, 'unlawful' is 'any action taken by an individual or organization whether by committing an act or by words either spoken or written or by sign or by visible representation or otherwise, which constitute a danger or menace to public order, peace and tranquility'. Offences are cognisable and the accused can be arrested without a warrant. Punishment includes jail terms of two years to seven years, along with fines ranging from ₹2 lakh to ₹5 lakh. The State argues that Chhattisgarh, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha have enacted Public Security Acts and banned 48 Naxal frontal organisations. The Opposition parties offered feeble resistance to the Bill and raised some broad concerns regarding its misuse but it was passed in the Assembly through a voice vote. As an afterthought, the Congress and the Shiv Sena (UBT) protested on the floor when it was taken up in the Legislative Council. The Bill had gone through a long deliberative process, but as it turns out, all parties appeared to be in agreement, barring the lone CPI (M) MLA who protested against it on the floor of the Assembly. The idea that thought and speech, howsoever unpalatable they might be to the ruling establishment, should be policed poses a grave danger for India as an open society.
The Hindu
23 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Letters to The Editor — July 24, 2025
Unceremonious exit The Vice-President's office, once a symbol of parliamentary balance, is now seen as a new front in partisan conflict. In our constitutional design, neutrality in high offices is not optional but foundational. Yet, this principle has been steadily eroding, perhaps more rapidly of late. Neutrality in constitutional roles ensures institutional trust and continuity. Without it, governance risks becoming a series of political skirmishes fought through institutions meant to rise above them. R. Narayanan, Navi Mumbai Jagdeep Dhankhar's abrupt resignation is a shock. The conspicuous absence of the ceremonial send-off and farewell speeches for him is an unhappy development given his standing as a constitutional authority. As such, parties across the political spectrum should refrain from getting into a political slugfest over his resignation. Instead, they should facilitate the process of the election of the next Vice-President of India. G. Ramasubramanyam, Vijayawada, Andhra Pradesh Tamil Nadu politics In an interview in this daily, ('Tamil Nadu' page, July 22), Edappadi K. Palaniswami, who is the AIADMK General Secretary, Leader of the Opposition in Tamil Nadu and also former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, has asserted that his party would return to power and form the government on its own next year. Even though it is the AIADMK's major alliance partner, the BJP is not a strong force. However, there is a strong possibility of its popularity rising in Tamil Nadu on account of its efficient governance at the Centre. But Mr. Palaniswami's ambition to capture power and rule solely will not be realised unless he takes steps to enlarge the spectrum of his political alliance. Anti-incumbency votes will move to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam headed by actor Vijay and the beneficiary will be the DMK despite its mediocre performance. K. Chellappan, Seattle, U.S. The electoral ties forged between the BJP and the AIADMK do not seem to be working well (Editorial and 'Data Point', both July 23). The AIADMK is finding it hard to convince the people that it will not allow the saffron party to swallow it up. It is a 'catch-22 situation' for the AIADMK, as stated in the 'Data Point'. It cannot be seen to be with a party that speaks ill of Tamil Nadu's illustrious leaders. Neither can it sever ties with the BJP for fear of central agencies being unleashed on its leaders. The AIADMK lacks the political heft and the ideological conviction to stand up to the BJP. G. David Milton, Maruthancode, Tamil Nadu
