"In the face of this assault on non-Hindi languages, Mamata Banerjee stands as a shield for the language and people of West Bengal" said M. K. Stalin
Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, M.K Stalin
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin on Monday extended his support to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after she slammed the Delhi Police for allegedly referring to Bengali as a Bangladeshi language, calling it a “direct insult to the very language in which the National Anthem is composed,” reported ANI.
Stalin stated that such remarks are not mere mistakes but reflect a dangerous mindset that seeks to undermine India’s cultural and linguistic diversity. He said, “The Delhi Police, under the Union Home Ministry, has described Bengali as a 'Bangladeshi language.' This is a direct insult to the very language in which our National Anthem was written. Such statements are not inadvertent errors or slips. They expose the dark mindset of a regime that consistently undermines diversity and weaponises identity,” reported ANI.
He further added, “In the face of this assault on non-Hindi languages, Mamata Banerjee stands as a shield for the language and people of West Bengal. She will not let this attack pass without a fitting response.”
The controversy erupted after Mamata Banerjee on Sunday accused Delhi Police of calling Bengali a “Bangladeshi language” in a communication note.
Terming it scandalous and unconstitutional, she wrote on X, “See now how Delhi police under the direct control of the Ministry of Home, Government of India, is describing Bengali as 'Bangladeshi' language! Bengali, our mother tongue, the language of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda, the language in which our National Anthem and the National Song (the latter by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay) are written, the language in which crores of Indians speak and write, the language which is sanctified and recognised by the Constitution of India, is now described as a Bangladeshi language!”
In response, BJP leader Amit Malviya lashed out at Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of inflaming linguistic tensions with her reaction. He claimed that the Delhi Police letter did not label Bengali as Bangladeshi and argued that Banerjee's comments were both misplaced and dangerous.
“Mamata Banerjee's reaction to Delhi Police referring to the language used by infiltrators as 'Bangladeshi' is not just misplaced, it is dangerously inflammatory. Nowhere in the Delhi Police letter is Bangla or Bengali described as a 'Bangladeshi' language. To claim otherwise and call upon Bengalis to rise against the Centre is deeply irresponsible. Mamata Banerjee should be held accountable--perhaps even under the National Security Act--for inciting linguistic conflict,” Malviya posted on X.
Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) also weighed in on the issue, with senior leader Mohammed Salim criticising Delhi Police’s stance and questioning their understanding of the Constitution. He posted on X, “Will the 'illiterate' Delhi Police tell us what's this 'Bangladeshi language'? Moreover, why Delhi Police has failed to make their officers aware of the 8th Schedule of our Constitution.”
(Inputs from ANI)
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