Image Source: Hindustan Times
Kolkata witnessed a major political mobilisation on July 16 as West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee spearheaded a protest rally against what she described as systematic discrimination and harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in BJP-ruled states.
Background and Political Context
The rally, stretching from College Square to Dorina Crossing in the city center, drew thousands, including TMC heavyweights like national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. Security was stepped up with 1,500 police personnel deployed and key traffic arteries in the city redirected to accommodate the march.
This protest comes amid claims by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) that Bengali speakers face profiling, arbitrary detention, and eviction in non-Bengali states—most notably in Delhi’s Jai Hind Colony and via government actions in Odisha and Assam. The TMC alleges the existence of a secret central government notification urging BJP-ruled states to target Bengali-speaking individuals as illegal immigrants.
Banerjee accused the Centre of attempting to influence the Election Commission for electoral advantages and of pushing a narrative that conflates Bengali migrants with Bangladeshi or Rohingya populations, despite them holding valid Indian identity documents.
Rally Themes and Demands
Mamata Banerjee’s address condemned what she called the “anti-poor” and “anti-Bengali” stance of the BJP, warning of political consequences if the alleged persecution continues.
She pledged solidarity with the estimated 22 lakh migrant workers from Bengal across India and vowed to challenge the purported central directives in court.
The protest also spotlighted rising assertiveness around Bengali identity and rights, with Banerjee declaring her intention to speak more Bangla in protest and daring authorities to detain her.
Legal and Social Pushback
The Calcutta High Court has intervened, asking the Union Home Ministry for explanations over migrant detentions, particularly in cases where workers with valid paperwork were allegedly sent to detention camps or deported to Bangladesh.
TMC’s campaign dovetails with its preparations for next year’s state assembly elections, aiming to energise its base around identity, rights, and federal autonomy.
Political Reactions
While the TMC has framed the issue as a defense of cultural and civil rights, opposition leaders like BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari allege that Mamata’s agitation is an attempt to shield illegal immigrants, escalating the political face-off as Prime Minister Narendra Modi prepares to visit the state.
Sources: The New Indian Express, India Today, Hindustan Times
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