The senior ministers, Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and grassroots workers participated in the demonstration, which was presented as a show of solidarity with Bengalis residing outside West Bengal
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, along with TMC supporters, held a rally in Kolkata to protest the alleged harassment of migrant workers, claiming they are falsely labeled as Bangladeshis for deportation. Pic/AFP
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alongside Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee and several party leaders, led a large protest march in Kolkata on Wednesday. They alleged that Bengali-speaking people are being harassed in states governed by the BJP, reported news agency ANI.
Senior ministers of the West Bengal Cabinet, as well as Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLAs), and grassroots workers participated in the demonstration, which was presented as a show of solidarity with Bengalis residing outside West Bengal.
In its post on X, the Trinamool Congress stated: "BJP's assault on Bengali identity is no longer covert; it's brutal, deliberate, and fuelled by hate. Under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee hit the streets today in fierce defiance. Every injustice will be met with resistance."
Over the past few days, the party has highlighted various instances, claiming that Bengali-speaking people were being targeted in BJP-ruled states.
According to ANI, the party alleged that innocent Bengali migrant workers were being targeted in "Double-Engine states".
The party further claimed that six members of the Matua community from North 24-Parganas, including minors, were illegally detained and harassed by Maharashtra Police despite possessing valid identification documents.
Moreover, the party also asserted that despite having valid documents and verified IDs, Bengali-speaking residents of Delhi's Jai Hind Colony were harassed, humiliated, and branded as 'illegal', reported ANI.
On July 12, the Trinamool Congress criticised remarks made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma that "writing Bengali as mother tongue in the Census documents will quantify the number of foreigners in Assam."
"Bengali is the 7th most spoken language in the world. Yet, under @BJP4India's rule, Bengali-speaking Indians are subjected to racial profiling, targeted harassment, and systematic persecution," the Trinamool Congress' X handle had posted.
"By branding Bengalis as 'illegal Bangladeshis,' @himantabiswa has disgraced the very office he holds. He must apologise immediately," the party added.
Additionally, in response, Assam's Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused the Trinamool Congress of portraying his government's firm stance against the illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi Muslims as anti-Bengali, according to ANI.
Moreover, he further stated that this alleged attempt is nothing more than a desperate ploy to shield Muslim infiltrators from the neighbouring country.
"Assam has been waging a relentless war against illegal infiltration of Bangladeshi Muslims for several decades," Sarma said in a post on X.
"The recent attempt by the @AITCofficial to distort my media remarks and portray our stand as anti-Bengali is nothing but a desperate ploy to shield Muslim infiltrators from Bangladesh," he added.
Meanwhile, Wednesday's rally is an attempt by the TMC to use this emotive issue to challenge the BJP ahead of the state elections due in 2026.
(With inputs from ANI)
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