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NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
'Implement CAA If You Care For Bengalis,' Himanta Sarma Dares Mamata Banerjee
Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma hit out at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her statement on alleged harassment of Bengali migrants in the BJP-ruled states. Addressing the media late last night, Mr Sarma asked the Trinamool Congress leader to implement the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in West Bengal if she 'cares for Bengalis.' The dare was laced with a belief and allegation that Ms Banerjee is only concerned about 'Muslim Bengalis.' "Mamata Banerjee should realise that in Assam, Bengali Hindus are not only protected, but they have also been assimilated into the greater Assam landscape ... They are practising their language, religion, and are part of a greater Assamese society," said Mr Sarma while responding to a question by a reporter. Mr Sarma boasted that there is no division between Assamese and Bengalis in Assam; however, he questioned the TMC leader's stance on Bengalis. "If you are at all interested in Bengali people, then why don't you implement CAA in West Bengal?" he asked Chief Minister Banerjee. "The question is whether Mamata Banerjee likes Bengalis or only Muslim Bengalis. In my answer, Mamata Banerjee likes only Muslim Bengalis and if she comes to Assam, for the Muslim Bengali, Assamese people and Hindu Bengalis will not spare her." असम में बंगाली हिंदू सुरक्षित हैं, लेकिन TMC को सिर्फ बंगाली मुसलमानों की चिंता है। अगर उन्हें बंगाली हिंदुओं से इतना प्रेम है, तो फिर उन्होंने CAA का विरोध क्यों किया? — Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) July 17, 2025 Sharing the clipping on the social media site X (formerly Twitter), Mr Sarma reiterated his question and belief. He wrote, "Bengali Hindus are safe in Assam, but TMC is only concerned about Bengali Muslims. If they love Bengali Hindus so much, then why did they oppose the CAA?" This comes after Ms Banerjee took to the streets of Kolkata on Thursday to protest the alleged harassment of Bengali speakers in BJP-ruled states. Accusing the BJP-led central and state governments of targeting Bengali migrants, she said Bengal fought for India's freedom, and BJP should be ashamed. "What does BJP think? They will hurt Bengalis? They are calling them Rohingya. Rohingya are in Myanmar, not here. 22 lakh poor migrant workers are being targeted. I appeal to them to return home. They will be safe here. The BJP is sending Bengali speakers to detention camps. Is West Bengal not in India?" Ms Banerjee said. She asked if the BJP had forgotten the Bengalis' sacrifice and freedom fighters.
The Hindu
11-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
West Bengal resident who got notice over citizenship is from Assam, says Himanta
GUWAHATI A resident of West Bengal, who received a notice from a Foreigners' Tribunal (FT), was a citizen of Assam but he should have informed the tribunal that his community has been exempted from citizenship cases, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswas Sarma said on Thursday evening. He was responding to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's statement that an Assam tribunal issued a notice over citizenship to Uttam Kumar Brajabasi, a resident of Cooch Behar district's Dinhata for 50 years and a member of the Koch-Rajbanshi community. An FT is a quasi-judicial set-up that tries cases of people suspected and marked as foreigners by the border wing of the Assam Police. Depending on the FT's verdict, a person is detained and deported to the country of his or her origin. 'Brajabasi is not a citizen of Bengal, where he went temporarily. He is a citizen of Assam,' Mr. Sarma said. 'The notice he received is a judicial process, but the State government has recommended the withdrawal of citizenship cases against the Koch-Rajbanshi people. This is being processed,' he said. Mr. Sarma faulted Mr. Brajabasi and his two advocates for not informing the tribunal that he is a Koch-Rajbanshi. 'The case would have been removed if they had pleaded for withdrawal of the case according to a government office memorandum,' he said. The Koch-Rajbanshis are among several communities, including Bengali Hindus and Muslims, who have migrated from or taken refuge in Assam from Bangladesh. A few days ago, Ms Banerjee expressed 'shock' over the notice issued to Mr Brajabasi. She alleged that the man was being harassed on suspicion of being a 'foreigner/illegal migrant' even after he had furnished valid identity documents. 'This is nothing short of a systematic assault on democracy. It is proof that the ruling BJP dispensation in Assam is attempting to implement NRC in Bengal, where it holds no power or jurisdiction,' she stated. Ms. Banerjee sniffed a premeditated attempt to intimidate, disenfranchise, and target marginalised communities. 'This unconstitutional overreach is anti-people, and exposes the BJP's dangerous agenda of bulldozing democratic safeguards and erasing the identity of Bengal's people,' she said. She further said that this 'alarming' situation called for unity among all Opposition parties to stand up against the BJP's 'divisive and oppressive machinery'.
Time of India
08-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
2026 polls fight for Bengali Hindus, nationalist Muslims to retain identity: Samik
1 2 Kolkata: Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said on Tuesday that the 2026 assembly elections will be a fight for Bengali Hindus and nationalist, educated sections of the Muslim community to retain their identity. "This election is a fight to retain the existence of Bengali Hindus and nationalist, logical Muslims in the state. The forces of election in Bengal will not be hijacked by political parties this time," Bhattacharya said. The comments come days after the Bengal BJP chief said his party was not against Muslims even though the minority community might be critical of BJP, in an apparent bid to dent the minority support base of Trinamool Congress . You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "We are appealing to fence-sitters and critics of BJP. When they set the Indira Gandhi Cultural Center in Bangladesh on fire, Abul Bashar's books burnt along with poems of Joy Goswami," Bhattacharya had said in his first public address after being elected BJP president. On Tuesday, he raised concerns about what he called "the rise of fundamentalist and fascist forces believing in Islam". He said Trinamool's policies have given rise to a situation in which Muslims were being attacked by Muslims. "We are fighting against the lack of education and poverty among the Muslim community. We want Muslim youths to get into govt jobs based on merit, not through quota. They should not follow the ways of Afzal Guru. If Trinamool retains power in 2026, Bengal will remind us of what used to happen in Jammu and Kashmir," he said. "I respect pluralism in politics and BJP believes in multi-party democracy. If pluralism and multi-party democracy are to survive in Bengal, the fundamentalist and fascist forces believing in Islam have to go," Bhattacharya added. The state BJP chief met Dilip Ghosh, the former BJP national vice president on Tuesday. After meeting Bhattacharya, Ghosh said, "I have been with BJP. It has grown because of the sweat and blood of party workers. More than 150 workers were killed. I cannot forget that. Neither can BJP workers forget that. We will uproot Trinamool in 2026." Bhattacharya, on his part, said party veterans will be frontrunners in the 2026 campaign. "There is no debate between veterans and newcomers. BJP advanced in Bengal only because veterans paved the way," he added.
News18
08-07-2025
- Politics
- News18
'Won't Allow Bengal To Become West Bangladesh': New State BJP Chief Targets TMC Govt
West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya vowed that the BJP would never let Bengal become "West Bangladesh" or an "Islamic Republic". West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya on Tuesday accused the ruling TMC of yielding to fundamentalist forces and allowing a 'silent demographic invasion", asserting that the 2026 assembly polls would decide the fate and existence of Bengal and Bengali Hindus. He vowed that the BJP would never let Bengal become 'West Bangladesh" or an 'Islamic Republic". Bhattacharya, who recently took charge as the state party chief, said the political atmosphere in Bengal was 'frighteningly similar" to the volatile pre-Partition years of 1946. 'This is not merely a political contest. It is a struggle for identity, survival, and existence. Bengali Hindus are facing an existential crisis. The BJP is the only force standing in defence of Bengali Hindus' existence and Bengal. We won't allow the state to be turned into an Islamic Republic or West Bangladesh," the state BJP chief said. Bhattacharya, a Rajya Sabha MP, is known in political circles for his measured tone and cultural fluency. He did not shy away from deploying the full spectrum of the BJP's Hindutva rhetoric, invoking demographic anxieties, cultural pride, and historical trauma. 'The TMC has surrendered before fundamentalists. For the sake of vote-bank politics, they have opened the gates to infiltration. Since the 1980s, we have warned of a silent demographic invasion. If we don't resist now, the fate of Bengali Hindus may mirror that of Hindus in Bangladesh," he claimed. Emphasising that the BJP was not anti-Muslim, Bhattacharya appealed to 'nationalist and liberal Muslims" to join the party's mission to defeat radicalism and religious appeasement. 'Radicalisation is spreading, but we will not allow Bengal to be divided again. The BJP is not against Muslims; we are against those who pick up stones and swords. We want to give their children books and pens instead," he said. In a message to the minorities, Bhattacharya questioned what they had gained under the TMC rule. 'Nearly 90 per cent of political violence victims in recent years have been Muslims. The TMC has used them as vote banks but done nothing for their uplift. I urge my Muslim brothers and sisters to ask yourselves, what have you truly received in return for your loyalty?" he asked. 'There are large numbers of Muslims, who are against fundamentalism. We would appeal to them that they should come forward against this misrule of the TMC," Bhattacharya said. The BJP leader accused the chief minister of 'compromising Bengal's pluralism" for political expediency. 'She has now moved on from Maa Kali to Lord Jagannath. But she pursues appeasement politics. We don't need lessons in secularism or Bengali culture from TMC," he claimed. One of the key challenges before Bhattacharya is whether the Bengal BJP under his leadership will pursue a moderate, inclusive Hindutva line or continue with the combative, hardline posture championed by Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari. Bhattacharya was quick to dispel any talk of ideological divergence. 'There is no binary of aggressive or soft Hindutva or any difference. There is no difference between the Bengal line and the Delhi line. The party has always believed in inclusive nationalism and unity without appeasement. We will make Bengal free from fear, corruption and violence," he said. The 61-year-old lauded Adhikari as a 'natural leader", asserting that there is no difference of opinion with him, but said the party line would be decided by the top leadership. His appointment as state BJP president, seen as an attempt to bring order to a faction-ridden unit, came amid growing concern in the party's central leadership over a shrinking support base, demoralised cadre, and lack of emotional connection with the Bengali electorate. 'The old generation of BJP leaders laid the foundations when we had nothing in Bengal. The new generation must value that struggle. Similarly, the old guards have to understand that for the party to grow we have to induct new people. There is no friction between the old and the new. Everyone will stand united to defeat TMC," he said. Ahead of the 2021 assembly election, the TMC invoked Bengali sub-nationalism to counter the BJP's Hindutva narrative, branding it a party of 'outsiders". Responding to the charge, Bhattacharya said, 'No one has a monopoly over Bengali culture. The BJP stands for every Bengali who aspires for development and dignity. We don't need lessons on Bengali culture from anyone in the TMC." Bhattacharya said his immediate priority would be to strengthen the BJP's presence in districts with untapped potential and re-energise the grassroots network. 'We have around ten months. A baby takes eight to nine months to be born, so there is time to deliver. People must not fall for the 'No Vote to BJP' campaign. This is a ploy to help the TMC. The real binary is BJP versus TMC. Everything else is noise," he said. Bhattacharya sought to position the BJP as a party with an economic and industrial vision. 'Industries have collapsed, investors fled, and youths are migrating for jobs. The TMC has failed Bengal's economy. We will reverse this decline. Bengal must rise again, both culturally and economically," he said. As the BJP aims to script a comeback in a state where it made impressive gains in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls but faltered in the 2021 state polls, the spotlight is now firmly on Bhattacharya's stewardship. 'This is not just about winning an election. It is about saving Bengal," he signed off. tags : BJP Samik Bhattacharya tmc West Bengal Location : West Bengal, India, India First Published: July 08, 2025, 14:57 IST News india 'Won't Allow Bengal To Become West Bangladesh': New State BJP Chief Targets TMC Govt
Time of India
05-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Factionalism, narrative clarity, cultural disconnect: Challenges aplenty for new Bengal BJP chief
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel With the 2026 West Bengal assembly polls on the horizon, the BJP has placed its bet on soft-spoken RSS loyalist and party veteran Samik Bhattacharya to steer its troubled state unit out of a prolonged phase of internal discord, grassroots disarray and "cultural disconnect" with the Bengali as Bhattacharya, a quintessential Bengali 'bhadralok' takes charge, a key challenge before him is whether the state BJP under his leadership pursues a moderate, inclusive Hindutva line or continues with the combative and hardline posture championed by leaders like Suvendu Adhikari.A Rajya Sabha MP and one of the BJP's most articulate Bengali faces, Bhattacharya was recently unanimously elected president of the West Bengal unit, a move seen as an attempt to calm factional storms, revive a demoralised cadre and address the growing perception that it lacks cultural connect and ideological clarity in the state."The party is above individuals. My focus will be on strengthening the organisation and outreach at all levels. West Bengal deserves a better alternative to the politics of violence, corruption and communalism pursued by the TMC," Bhattacharya told PTI after taking alone, however, will likely not suffice, feel political analysts. The BJP in Bengal is confronting serious challenges, both internal and a marked shift in tone, Bhattacharya has sought to position the BJP as an inclusive force, distinct from the strident posturing of some of its leaders."The BJP's fight is not against the state's minorities. Young boys in minority households who are roaming around with stones - we want to snatch away the stones and hand them books. We want to take away their swords and give them pens instead. We envision a Bengal where a Durga Puja procession and a Muharram rally are held side by side without conflict," he had said remarks appear to be part of a conscious attempt to win over middle-class urban voters, liberal professionals, and the youth - groups that contributed to the BJP's 2021 assembly poll setback.A BJP leader said the party must reflect Bengal's unique political culture."We cannot grow in Bengal by alienating communities. If we want middle-class Bengali Hindus, liberal professionals and even silent first-time voters to back us, we have to show we can take along everybody and speak the language of inclusivity," he not everyone in the party is convinced."Bengal's voters want clarity. If we confuse them with half-hearted messaging, we lose core and swing voters," said a leader close to Adhikari, the face of the party's aggressive Hindutva plank and Leader of the minorities comprise nearly 30 per cent of the electorate and are a deciding factor in almost 120 of the 294 assembly analyst Maidul Islam told PTI that Bhattacharya's message signals a shift in the BJP's positioning in Bengal."What Bhattacharya said - the BJP is not the enemy of minorities and wants to protect pluralism - is something new for the Bengal unit, and in sharp contrast to what Adhikari and others have said. Whether Bhattacharya can make moderate Hindutva the party's dominant line remains to be seen," Islam TMC has long accused the BJP of promoting a 'Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan' model, out of sync with Bengal's cultural state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, however, dismissed such criticism."No one has a monopoly on Bengali culture. The BJP represents every Bengali who wants development and dignity," he TMC, meanwhile, remains unconvinced."The BJP is still driven by RSS' Hindi-Hindu-Hindustan ideology. Samik Bhattacharya cannot camouflage it," TMC leader Kunal Ghosh the 2021 polls, the TMC used Bengali sub-nationalism to counter the BJP's Hindutva narrative, branding it a party of outsiders."Bhattacharya's soft-spoken, scholarly image, fluency in Bengali literature and RSS background position him as a bridge between the ideological core and the broader Bengali electorate. However, reclaiming cultural legitimacy for a party often branded an 'outsider force' won't be easy," said critical issue Bhattacharya faces is infighting. Since the 2021 assembly poll defeat, factionalism between the BJP's old guards and defectors from the TMC has crippled organisational unity."He's not seen as belonging to any camp. That's why Delhi picked him. But to bring everyone together, Samik da will have to assert himself fast. Otherwise, he will be reduced to a rubber stamp," a senior state BJP leader his first address as state chief, Bhattacharya had acknowledged the rift and called for analyst Biswanath Chakraborty believes Bhattacharya's real test lies in energising the party base."The BJP in Bengal is demoralised. The primary task for him will be to bring all factions together and launch a mass movement against the TMC," Chakraborty told BJP's support has steadily eroded since its 77-seat performance in the 2021 polls. In the 2023 rural elections and recent bypolls, its organisational atrophy, especially in rural and tribal belts, has been stark."There's an urgent need to activate the booth-level structure. Workers feel disillusioned. The leaders need to spend time in districts to reconnect with cadres," said another senior BJP the road ahead is fraught with risks."The party has chosen calm over chaos. Now, it must ensure the calm doesn't turn into inertia," added a BJP insider. PTI
