Latest news with #ShaheedDiwas'
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Why Mamata's Martyrs' Day rally is key to TMC roadmap
On July 21 every year, the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and its chief Mamata Banerjee mark 'Shaheed Diwas' (Martyrs' Day), holding a mega rally in the heart of Kolkata, which outlines their roadmap for the coming months. This time, while addressing the Martyrs' Day rally Monday, Banerjee, the West Bengal Chief Minister, has set the tone for the Assembly polls slated for early 2026. She accused the BJP of allegedly unleashing 'linguistic terrorism' against Bengalis, asserting that the fight for identity and language will continue till the BJP is defeated. 'There will be a language movement against the BJP's terrorism on the Bengali language… From July 27, the language movement will start in West Bengal in protest against attacks on Bengalis,' Banerjee thundered before a massive gathering at the rally venue in central Kolkata. 'We have to win more seats in the 2026 Assembly polls, and then march to Delhi to defeat the BJP,' the CM said. On July 21, 1993, the Bengal Youth Congress, led by Mamata Banerjee who was then with the Congress, organised a 'Writers' Abhijaan' (march to Writers' Building, a colonial building that was the seat of the state secretariat) with the demand to make voter ID cards mandatory for voting. The Congress raised this demand to put an end to the alleged rigging of polls by the then CPM-led Left Front government. Veteran TMC MP Saugata Roy, who participated in that 1993 march, recalled that thousands of Youth Congress workers gathered at five different points in Kolkata before starting the march towards Writers' Building. But Jyoti Basu, the CM at the time, had announced that he would not allow the Youth Congress workers to lay siege on the state secretariat – and the government imposed prohibitory orders to quell the demonstration. As one of the Youth Congress processions approached the Writers' Building from the Mayo Road area, the police stopped it and a scuffle broke out. A few of the protesters started throwing stones and the police responded with a baton charge. As the protest kept gaining momentum, the police, afraid they would be outnumbered, opened fire and killed 13 Youth Congress workers. 'Since July 21, 1994, the first anniversary of the deadly clash, Mamata Banerjee has held an annual rally in central Kolkata to commemorate the 13 young men killed on July 21, 1993. Since the formation of the Trinamool Congress on January 1, 1998, the July 21 rally has been the biggest day in the annual calendar of the party,' political scientist Sumantra Bose wrote in his book Transforming India: Challenges to the World's Largest Democracy. In her memoir, My Unforgettable Memories, Banerjee writes that 'all of us were bashed up black and blue'. 'I took most of the blows on my abdomen and around the waist. It was so bad that I had to go in for surgery and all through 1994–95 I used to ride in Bappan's Ambassador because I had to wear an orthopaedic belt,' she wrote. 'It is the day when we remember and offer our respect to the hundreds of people who are fighting death every day, whose lives are a living death, who have lost life and limb in this struggle. For us, it is a day of sorrow and shame. It is a day all of us come together so we started organising district conventions with Trinamool workers,' Banerjee added.
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
‘Bengalis being harassed': Mamata Banerjee vows to oust BJP from Centre on Martyrs' Day
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government during the Trinamool Congress' annual Martyrs' Day rally in Kolkata, vowing to continue her fight until the BJP is removed from power at the Centre. West Bengal chief minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee addresses a protest rally against the alleged torture of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled States, in Kolkata.(ANI file) "Our fight will continue till we oust the BJP from the Centre," said Mamata Banerjee, addressing a large crowd of supporters at Esplanade. The annual rally on 'Shaheed Diwas' marks the killing of 13 youth Congress workers in 1993 during a protest in Kolkata. Also Read | Mamata Banerjee, Himanta Sarma lock horns on X over 'divisive politics' Targeting the BJP over rising crimes against women, Mamata Banerjee demanded answers and accountability from the saffron party. "The BJP should answer why women in states ruled by it are facing atrocities," she said, adding, "We are against any form of atrocities against women, take immediate action against such incidents." 'We have to win more seats in the 2026 Bengal assembly election, then aim to defeat the BJP at the Centre,' Trinamool Congress supremo said at the rally. Also Read | 'Resisting unchecked infiltration': Assam CM hits back at Mamata's 'divisive agenda' remark She also raised concerns about the treatment of Bengalis in the BJP-ruled states, claiming they are being singled out and persecuted. "Bengalis being harassed, put in detention camps in the BJP-ruled states," the CM alleged. Sharpening her attack on Himanta Biswas Sarma, Banerjee said, "The Assam chief minister, who cannot properly handle his own state, meddling in affairs of Bengal, Mamata Banerjee at TMC Martyrs' Day rally. Also Read | 'I am ashamed of BJP's attitude towards Bengalis': Mamata Banerjee leads mega Kolkata protest In a sharp political accusation, Banerjee said there was a coordinated attempt to disenfranchise Bengalis. "The BJP and the Election Commission are conspiring against Bengal and want to remove Bengalis from the voter list," she alleged, without citing specific incidents. 'The BJP is planning to conduct special intensive revision (SIR)-like exercise in West Bengal, but we will never allow it,' Banerjee said. This year's Shaheed Diwas rally holds significance as it is being seen as the launchpad for the TMC's campaign for the 2026 West Bengal assembly election. The BJP, meanwhile, had dismissed the allegations as political posturing, blaming the TMC government for the chaos over the documentation of migrant workers and infiltration. Apart from Banerjee, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will be the key speaker at the rally.
Indian Express
2 days ago
- Politics
- Indian Express
Shaheed Diwas Today Live Updates: Mamata Banerjee to make ‘Bengali pride' key to TMC's poll pitch at Martyrs' Day rally
Shaheed Diwas Today Live Updates: Setting the tone for a high-voltage campaign for the Assembly election, that is less than a year away, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) chairperson Mamata Banerjee will address a rally to mark 'Shaheed Diwas' (Martyrs' Day) in Kolkata today. Banerjee is expected to take on the BJP on the issue of 'Bengali ashmita (pride)' and detention of Bengali-speaking migrants in various states. Traffic curbs: In view of the event, the Kolkata Police have put in place a slew of traffic measures in the central part of the city. The processions related to the annual TMC rally in Dharmatala will be permitted only before 8 am and after 11 am. The police released a notification outlining extensive traffic restrictions for passenger vehicles from 4 am to 9 pm on July 21. Here's a list of the affected routes.
