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Key Points

Mamata Banerjee announced statewide weekend protests against alleged targeting of Bengali speakers in BJP-ruled states. She framed the movement as a revival of the historic 1971 Language Movement that birthed Bangladesh. The CM accused the Centre of financial discrimination while vowing to continue welfare schemes with state funds. The protests will run weekly until next year's assembly elections.

Key Points: Mamata Banerjee Launches TMC Bhasha Andolon Protests for Bengalis

  • TMC protests target BJP states over Bengali harassment claims
  • Mamata invokes 1971 Bhasha Andolon legacy
  • Weekend rallies to continue till 2024 Bengal polls
  • CM accuses Centre of withholding welfare scheme funds
3 min read

Trinamool to launch weekend protests against harassment of Bangla-speaking people in BJP-ruled states

TMC to hold weekend protests against alleged harassment of Bengali speakers in BJP states, invoking historic Language Movement legacy.

"We will not tolerate any attack on the Bengali language - Mamata Banerjee"

Kolkata, July 21

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that the Trinamool Congress (TMC) will launch weekend protest programmes across the state starting July 27, in response to the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking people in BJP-ruled states.

She described this protest programme as yet another "Bhasha Andolon" (Language Movement).

Historically, “Bhasha Andolan” was a political movement in what was then East Pakistan, advocating for the recognition of Bangla as an official language of the country, which ultimately led to the emergence of Bangladesh as an independent nation after erstwhile East Pakistan was liberated from Pakistan in 1971.

“The weekend protests on every Saturday and Sunday will start throughout West Bengal from July 27 and will continue till the state Assembly elections next year. This will be another ‘Bhasha Andolon’. We will not tolerate any attack on the Bengali language. We are getting information that Bengali-speaking people are selectively targeted, harassed, and detained in BJP-ruled states,” the Chief Minister said while addressing Trinamool Congress’s annual Martyrs’ Day rally in central Kolkata on Monday afternoon..

Speaking on the occasion, she gave a call to Bengali-speaking people nationwide to participate in the protests from their respective places by speaking in the Bengali language to the maximum possible extent.

“Organise protest programmes in your way against this attack on the Bengali language. Speak in Bangla as much as possible. Let us together take an oath to protect the language, which is the second most-spoken language in India and Asia and the fifth most-spoken language in the world,” the Chief Minister said.

She also cautioned the BJP that the second ‘Bhasha Andolon’ could not be suppressed by the use of force, and Trinamool Congress could not be stopped from leading the movement.

“Trinamool Congress’s asset is that the party is the product of spontaneous love of the people of Bengal. Those who think that by abusing me and Abhishek, they will finish Trinamool Congress are mistaken. They will not be able to finish us by unleashing central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against us,” the Chief Minister said.

She also launched a scathing attack against the Union Government, accusing the latter of deliberately stopping payments under various centrally-sponsored schemes to the West Bengal government.

“However, despite that, we are carrying on with those projects in West Bengal from our funds. This we are doing despite paucity of funds,” the Chief Minister said.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

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Sarah B
While language protection is important, isn't this just political drama before elections? Both BJP and TMC are guilty of using identity politics for votes. We need real solutions, not protests.
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Priyanka N
My relatives in Tripura have stopped speaking Bengali outside home due to fear. This is heartbreaking! Every Indian should have the right to speak their mother tongue without fear. Support this movement 🙏
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Arjun K
Why only focus on Bengali? What about harassment of Hindi speakers in Bengal? This selective outrage shows TMC's hypocrisy. All languages deserve equal respect in our diverse nation.
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Kavya N
As a linguist, I appreciate the focus on language rights. But comparing this to 1971 Bhasha Andolon is inappropriate. That was about national identity, this is about regional politics. Different contexts altogether.
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Michael C
Working in Kolkata for 5 years now. The love for Bangla here is beautiful, but forcing protests seems extreme. Can't we celebrate languages without making it political? India's diversity is its strength.

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