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Time of India
3 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Didi slams Himanta over mother tongue ‘persecution threat'
Kolkata: Persecution for speaking in one's mother tongue was both "discriminatory and unconstitutional", CM Mamata Banerjee said on Saturday, stressing that she stood by the "people of Assam who are fighting for dignity of their language, identity and democratic rights". Banerjee, referring to Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma 's recent comment that "writing Bengali as mother tongue will help quantify foreigners", posted on X: "The second most spoken language in the country, Bangla, is also the second most spoken language of Assam. To threaten citizens who want to coexist peacefully respecting all languages and religions with persecution for upholding their own mother tongue is discriminatory and unconstitutional." This "divisive agenda of BJP in Assam has crossed all limits and people of Assam will fight back", Banerjee said. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The Bengal CM's statement comes a day after PM Narendra Modi told a Durgapur rally that "for BJP, Bengali 'asmita' is at the highest pedestal". "People of Bengal get respect wherever there is BJP. We will not allow a conspiracy against Bengal's 'asmita'. It is Modi's guarantee," he said. Banerjee's strongly worded statements looked like a throwback to her 2018 comments on Assam when Hindu Bengalis were being incarcerated under NRC. Back then, Trinamool had protested strongly against it both in Bengal and in Parliament. Recalling the days of the "Bongal kheda" (throw out Bengalis) campaign in Assam in the 1960s, '70s and '80s — which led to a massive migration of Bengalis from the state to Bengal — the CM had said: "It has made a comeback. Bengalis are being driven out of Assam. It will have an impact on Bengal because our state shares a border with it. We can't be mere onlookers. I warn BJP not to play with fire. We will not spare them if people come under attack." Sarma, debunking TMC claims, argued earlier this week that the recent drives were only against "illegal Bangladeshi Muslims" which, he claimed, threatened Assam's demography. But Trinamool questioned this logic. TMC spokesperson Debangshu Bhattacharya argued: "You claim your govt only targets 'illegal Bangladeshi Muslims'. But in the final NRC list, out of the 19.6 lakh people excluded, 12 lakh were Bengali Hindus. Was their faith the problem too? Or was it their language? You say your crusade isn't against Bengalis. Then how do you explain the fact that all but four of the 30 people who died in Assam's detention centres were Bengali-speaking?" TMC's Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Dev, who heads the party in Assam, said: "As always, BJP's last trick in the bag in a state where it is losing ground is division among the peace-loving people of Assam. Double-engine sarkar has given us a state neck deep in debt, corruption, failed NRC, failed CAA, no resolution to solve infiltration, no respect for laws or human rights, only oppression, fear and communalism. United, we have to reject this regressive politics. "
News18
5 days ago
- Politics
- News18
Samik Bhattacharya's First Task: Discipline Bengal BJP Before PM Modi's Rally On July 18
Sources say the BJP leadership in Delhi was unhappy with Bengal BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari's controversial statement asking Hindu Bengalis not to visit 'Muslim majority' J&K Ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's rally in Bengal's Durgapur on July 18, state BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya has received his first task—get the Bengal unit disciplined. Bhattacharya was asked to keep the flock, including its senior leadership, in check recently when he made his first visit to Delhi after becoming the West Bengal BJP president. Sources say the BJP leadership in Delhi was unhappy with Bengal BJP leader and LoP Suvendu Adhikari's controversial statement asking Hindu Bengalis not to visit 'Muslim majority" Jammu & Kashmir. Referring to the recent Pahalgam attack, Adhikari had said: 'Don't go to the places where Muslims are in majority. If you want to go to Kashmir, go to Jammu… They (terrorists) killed people asking about their religion." TMC lost no time to hit back, claiming Adhikari 'shamelessly echoed the terrorists' agenda". While Adhikari made it clear it was his personal opinion, the BJP leadership is clearly not convinced. In Delhi, Bhattacharya met BJP's Bengal in-charge Sunil Bansal and General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santhosh and is believed to have been asked to get the state unit disciplined. No out-of-turn gaffes or unwanted controversies should be allowed ahead of PM Modi's rally in Durgapur, which he is visiting after six years. The BJP is also in discomfiture in Bengal due to its former state president Dilip Ghosh, whose growing proximity with chief minister Mamata Banerjee has irked the cadres. Last week, Ghosh too came to Delhi and visited the BJP headquarters to meet Deputy General Secretary (Organisation) Shiv Prakash. However, after the meeting, Ghosh said something that may not go down well with the BJP—that there is no pending case of corruption against Mamata Banerjee. Earlier, Ghosh went to the inauguration of the 'Jagannath Dham Sanskriti Kendra' (cultural centre) at Digha, an event largely skipped by the state BJP leadership. PM Modi's last rally in West Bengal was on May 29, 2025, in Alipurduar. Last time, he raised the issue of TMC government's alleged corruption, which he claimed 'destroyed families". 'TMC regime not ready to accept its mistakes in school jobs scam. It is blaming courts, judicial system," he said. The rally comes days before the Trinamool Congress' annual Martyrs' Day programme on July 21, indicating a strategic move by the BJP to counter TMC's influence in the state. view comments First Published: July 16, 2025, 11:17 IST Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Tripura party seeks answers on Motha MLA's ‘violent past' from Shah
Agartala: Amra Bangali, a regional political party, has called upon Union home minister to address pressing concerns regarding TIPRA Motha MLA Ranjit Debbarma accused of committing genocide during his tenure as the chief of the banned armed outfit All Tripura Tiger Force (ATTF). Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Amra Bangali state secretary Gouranga Rudrapal has raised serious allegations against Debbarma, claiming that he has not formally renounced his past affiliations before contesting the 2023 assembly elections under the banner of royal scion Pradyot Kishore Debbarman's party, TIPRA Motha. Rudrapal says police records show Debbarma has not surrendered, with multiple cases still pending against him, including accusations of murdering over a hundred Bengalis during the 1990s. The party has also taken a firm stance against TIPRA Motha's demand to repatriate individuals who arrived in Tripura post-March 25, 1971, from Bangladesh. They are urging the govt to reopen investigations into the alleged genocides by ATTF and NLFT during the 1980s and 1990s. Rudrapal did not hold back in his criticism of Debbarma, accusing him of inciting communal tensions with hate speech against Hindu Bengalis. "It is alarming that someone with such a violent past can now hold a position of power as an MLA," he stated, demanding clarity on how an insurgent could transition into a lawmaker. Amra Bangali is also pushing for a judicial reinvestigation into the June 1980 riots and other violent incidents targeting Bengalis over the past three decades. They argue that justice has been denied to the victims of ethnic violence due to political negligence. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "The 1980 riots led to the massacre of hundreds of innocent Bengalis. Even after four decades, no proper investigation or justice has been delivered. Similarly, several acts of mass violence, property lootings, and targeted killings of Bengalis have taken place in the last 45 years, often by extremist groups. The victims were either forgotten or silenced," Rudrapal lamented. He called for the establishment of a judicial commission, led by a sitting HC judge, to thoroughly investigate these incidents and ensure proper compensation and rehabilitation for the victims' families. Rudrapal further emphasized the historical roots of Bengalis in the region, contrasting them with the migration of tribal communities from present-day Myanmar around the 5th century BC. "Bengalis are the real sons of the soil but today, they are being labelled as outsiders in their land," he said. Reacting to the allegations, Debbarma said, "History tells who are infiltrators. I just referred to the notification of MHA regarding identification of illegal migrants. In regard to the allegation of my past, I can only say there were 17 cases against me but none of them were proved in court."
India Today
08-07-2025
- Politics
- India Today
Our development will reach Muslims even sans their vote: BJP's new Bengal chief
BJP Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya—a seasoned Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member—has been entrusted with presidency of the party in West Bengal in the run-up to the assembly polls next year. The appointment is being seen as recognition of his ability to act as a bridge between the old and new guards in the state unit and bringing a distinctly Bengali ideological sensibility to the political for his deep-rooted connection with Bengali culture—as a soft-spoken bhadralok who often quotes poets Shankha Ghosh and Shakti Chattopadhyay—Bhattacharya is seeking to reposition the BJP beyond personality-centric politics in the his first public addresses, Bhattacharya projected an inclusive vision: protecting Bengal's plural identity, encouraging harmony between Hindus and Muslims and advocating education over violence. He urged 'nationalist Muslims' to work alongside the BJP to counter radicalisation, signalling a conscious outreach beyond the party's traditional BJP leaders and cadre, Bhattacharya's message is clear: party before self. He has sent subtle signals of collaboration with veterans such as Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and former Bengal BJP president Dilip Ghosh, stressing that the organisation is greater than any individual. Bhattacharya has also called upon anti-Trinamool Congress parties, including the Left, to join forces to oust the Mamata Banerjee's government in 2026. He appears eager to weave Bengali ethos into the BJP's broader narrative, forging new alliances while reviving its grassroots vigour. Excerpts from an exclusive interview:Q. You have taken charge at a critical time in Bengal. What is the blueprint you intend to follow in the run-up to assembly elections?A. The BJP's style of functioning is built on structure and continuity. We were already preparing a roadmap for January 2026. From there on, we will transition to our plan for April, when we expect the elections to take place. This process began even before I became state president. That is the strength of our organisational backbone—we move forward with consistency.Q. How do you see the political situation on the ground?A. What we're dealing with in Bengal is multilayered. There's one kind of leadership in this house (BJP) and quite another in the house across the street (Trinamool Congress). And there's a difference. Bengal has a unique political grammar—Hindu Bengalis, Leftists, caste-based groups, Muslims, each with its own posture and are confronting rampant illegal immigration. The Rohingyas have been systematically settled here. If this continues unchecked and the Trinamool returns to power through these tactics, then mark my words: what you saw in the Jammu and Kashmir assembly (such as most MLAs being Muslims) will be repeated in the West Bengal assembly. That is the situation unfolding before the people of Bengal. Even those who would never vote for the BJP—the traditional Left, the self-declared progressives—have begun to recognise the warning signs, especially after the recent events in How do you see the Bangladesh situation?A. We have seen bullets being fired. The leader of the Communist Party of Bangladesh—a Hindu—was the first to be murdered. Back home in Murshidabad, a Trinamool MLA's family had to flee. These aren't ideological talking points—these are lived Gandhi, who created Bangladesh, is now dishonoured there—her effigy urinated upon. A library named after her was burnt down, destroying 70,000 books, including works by Abul Bashar, Badal Sircar and Bratya Basu. This is Islamist fascism, blinded by religion. Islamic fundamentalist forces—the same ones operating in Pakistan—are using Bangladesh as a launch-pad to spread their influence across India.Q. How does all this impact Bengal?A. What is unfolding in Kolkata should concern everyone—a city stripped of dignity, aesthetics and order. Lawlessness parades openly because the state government, propped up by fear rather than legitimacy, has no moral authority. If the government continues to act with such impunity—whether by claiming to be a welfare state or by adopting totalitarian tendencies—the outcome will be at Pakistan, the only country created explicitly in the name of religion. If that logic had prevailed globally, we wouldn't have had 22 separate countries in the Arab League. Many of these nations aren't exclusively Muslim. Those now cheering Pakistan from Bangladesh have forgotten history. In the Jessore Cantonment, over 150,000 women were raped. It's a legacy of trauma carved into stone. And here we are, watching the West Bengal government turn a blind eye to these was always said about Bangladesh that 'We are not separate in Dhaka and Kolkata'. We made films together, shared literature. We still do. But this bond is being sabotaged. From 1936 to 1949, East Pakistan faced constant upheaval. Syama Prasad Mookerjee, who wasn't affiliated with any political party at the time, reached out to Subhas Chandra Bose and his brother Sarat Bose, seeking their help. Mookerjee had been an academic. But the worsening Hindu crisis drew him into there is an exodus of capital and skill from Bengal. The highly educated are underpaid IT majdoors while their counterparts in Bengaluru, Chennai or Delhi thrive. The less-educated build Delhi's buildings, run Noida's kitchens and power Gurugram's hotels, yet remain invisible in their own an identity crisis. People in Delhi's posh Bengali neighbourhood, Chittaranjan Park, now hesitate to admit their roots. The cultural pride of Bengal has collapsed. And this rot is political, fuelled by bomb politics, civic volunteers-turned-enforcers and a complete absence of healthy public discourse.Q. What has been the BJP's response?A. We aren't doing anything extraordinary—we are just trying to restore order. But even that is seen as confrontation. The Trinamool Congress, without police and civic volunteers, cannot win even one election booth. They dominate not through popularity but intimidation. We are doing politics in this poisoned landscape. Still, we believe we can change Bengal's political narrative just as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has changed India's. Today, democracy is our religion and development our children in Bengal are being forced to migrate. Where are the children of Trinamool leaders like Javed Khan and Firhad Hakim studying? Abroad. Meanwhile, the poor are sent to Khariji madrasas or, worse still, handed stones and swords. That isn't education; it's appeal to everyone: social reform is non-negotiable. We must win people's minds, not just votes. The BJP has never claimed to win 100 per cent support [of Hindus]. In many booths, we got just 5-7 votes. But we are growing. We've broken barriers in places like Kaliganj during the recent bypoll. Muslim voters, too, are realising that the BJP will be in power at the Centre for at least 20 more years. They now understand that the Centre is working for them, not treating them as You sound more receptive towards Muslims than Suvendu Adhikari, who has publicly called for Hindu consolidation and said that the BJP can win the Bengal polls without the support of Muslims.A. What I and Suvendu Adhikari are saying are not contradictory. Suvendu is the Leader of the Opposition. He has been heckled, insulted, even manhandled, in Muslim-dominated areas. But we all want inclusive development and growth in Bengal. Even if the Muslims do not vote for us, our development must and will reach their why am I referencing Bangladesh? Look at the silence surrounding gang-rapes there. Mujibur Rahman's legacy is invoked, yet a chit fund operator—awarded the Nobel Prize—is now the head of their government. Meanwhile, Islamic fundamentalism is rising and no one are spreading this message across Bengal and beyond—that India is moving forward but Bengal is stuck. After Partition, Sindh was lost. Half of Punjab is gone. Bengal, too, lost half of itself. But Bengal will not be divided along religious lines again. This is a powerful movement. We do not want power for power's sake. Bengal deserves a civilised society.Q. Many Bengali-speaking migrant workers from Bengal are being labelled as Bangladeshis and deported. Secondly, the NREGA fund freeze by the Centre—stopping the funds didn't help the BJP. The Lok Sabha poll results are proof of that.A. The Centre cannot bypass court orders. Clause 27 of the MGNREGA Act justifies the freeze. Irregularities cannot be overlooked. The court has permitted the Centre to continue the investigations. Even the state has acknowledged in court that corruption for migrant labourers, I was the first to raise the issue. During my time as MLA of Basirhat Dakshin (September 2014 to May 2016), I spoke to several Trinamool leaders and ministers. I urged them to help labourers—mostly Muslims—facing hardships in southern Indian cities such as Chennai. No one did.I finally asked these labourers if they would accept help from the local RSS. Their only problem was shelter. The RSS gave them food, even baby food for their children. These people came back and supported me in the state elections in 2016. I lost but because they had supported me, Trinamool goons razed their homes. This is why I say that Muslims are not safe under the Trinamool. A change is imminent in 2026.Q. But is the BJP organisationally strong enough to take on the Trinamool? Will the party, for instance, be able to deploy booth agents everywhere?A. The post-poll violence of 2021 certainly damaged our organisation. People got scared. But that's no longer the case. In 2026, you will see that the BJP will have its men in most booths in Bengal. People are waiting to topple this government. The binary was set in 2019, and it held firm through the recent Kaliganj bypoll. The people have decided: the BJP will form the government in Bengal in to India Today Magazine- EndsMust Watch
NDTV
14-06-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
India Demands Bangladesh "Rein In Terrorists" After Tagore's Home Vandalised
New Delhi: India has strongly condemned the "despicable" and "disgraceful" act of violence and vandalism on poet, polymath, and Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home in Bangladesh, describing the perpetrators of the act as "terrorists". Rabindranath Tagore's ancestral home - Kutcherybari - now a museum in Bangladesh's Sirajganj district, was vandalised by a mob on Sunday, following a dispute between a visitor and museum staff over motorcycle parking fee. During the altercation, the visitor was allegedly confined and assaulted. The incident triggered public anger, which led to a protest near the entrance. Soon after, a mob stormed the premises, and damaged the museum and auditorium. 'PATTERN OF SYSTEMATIC ATTEMPTS BY EXTREMISTS' Outraged over the incident, India's Ministry of External Affairs expressed its displeasure and concern. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We strongly condemn the despicable attack and vandalism of the ancestral home of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore by a mob on June 8, 2025," adding that "The violent act is a disgrace to the memory, the inclusive philosophy, and the teachings that the Nobel laureate espoused in Bangladesh." Blaming it on the rise of extremism in Bangladesh in recent times, Mr Jaiswal said, "The attack falls in the broad pattern of systematic attempts made by extremists to erase the symbols of tolerance and eviscerate the syncretic culture and the cultural legacy of Bangladesh." Labeling the offenders as terrorists and demanding that the incident be dealt with strictly, Mr Jaiswal urged the Yunus government "to rein in the terrorists and take strict action against the perpetrators in order to prevent the recurrence of such incidents that sadly have become a repetitive feature." WHAT BANGLADESH HAS DONE SO FAR Though a statement over the incident has not been issued by Dhaka, Bangladeshi authorities have temporarily closed the museum and launched a probe. A three-member committee formed by the Department of Archaeology has been asked to submit a report within five working days. Md Habibur Rahman, the custodian of the Rabindra Kutcherybari museum, said that the site is now completely out of bounds for visitors, adding that the entire premises has been put under surveillance. Meanwhile, several reactions poured in from India. OUTRAGE IN INDIA In a post on X, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami called this incident "Shocking and Unacceptable." He added that this is happening "under the silent gaze of Mohammad Yunus's government." He called this "far beyond mere vandalism. It is a premeditated hate crime, an attack on the civilizational spirit and cultural heritage of Bharat." He further added that "Tagore is a global figure, but he remains a treasured symbol of India's soul. What we are witnessing is the ongoing marginalisation of Hindu Bengalis in Bangladesh, their identity, history, and legacy being systematically eroded. The international community cannot afford to remain indifferent. This is a moment that demands attention, condemnation, and action." Shocked over the incident, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi urging him to "kindly take up the matter very strongly with the neighbouring country's government, so that no stone is left unturned to swiftly bring to justice the perpetrators of this heinous and mindless act." Ms Banerjee mentioned in the letter that "For the people of Bengal, this is an attack on a shared legacy," and that "the invaluable treasure of Bengali language and literature owes significantly to the majestic contributions of Tagore." Rabindra Kutcherybari, now also known as the Rabindra Memorial Museum, was the administrative centre of the Tagore family estate. Purchased in 1840 by Dwarkanath Tagore, Rabindranath's grandfather for 13 rupees and 10 annas during an auction, this property was declared a protected archaeological site in 1969. Constructed in a distinct Indo-European architectural style, the house has seven main rooms, spacious corridors, and a large garden. It faces a river and is surrounded by open fields and greenery. The damaged auditorium is a 500-seat auditorium where many literary and cultural events are hosted - like the annual Rabindra Festival.
