Mamata Banerjee to Lead July 16 Protest Against Harassment of Bengali Migrants

Kolkata, July 14:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lead a huge protest gathering on July 16 in response to what her party says is the targeted harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in several states that are run by the BJP. It will start at 1 p.m. in College Square and end in the middle of Kolkata at Dorina Crossing.

TMC Holds Parallel Rallies in Different Districts and Delhi

Between 2 PM and 4 PM, the Trinamool Congress has called for protests to happen at the same time in all of West Bengal's districts. There will also be a protest in New Delhi, which shows that the party wants to bring the problem to the attention of the whole country.

There have been claims of discrimination against Bengalis

Chandrima Bhattacharya, a top TMC leader and the Finance Minister, says that people who speak Bengali are being called "illegal Bangladeshis" in some BJP-run states like Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi, even if they have valid Indian IDs.

"In states run by the BJP, just speaking Bengali makes people wonder what country you are from." "Many Bengali migrant workers are being kicked out of their homes, having their water and electricity cut off, being detained, and in some cases being sent back to their home country," Bhattacharya said.

She said these acts were a form of linguistic and cultural profiling and were wrong. She called them "criminal intimidation against Indian citizens."

The TMC says that Bengali identity is being attacked

Bhattacharya also said things about the Assam Chief Minister and the central government, saying their acts were disrespectful to Bengal's history and contributions to India's freedom movement.

"Bengalis are not strangers." Our name is Indian. "This branding is a direct attack on who we are and our pride," she said.

BJP Dismisses Protest as Political Gimmick

BJP West Bengal unit head Sukanta Majumdar, on the other hand, didn't pay much attention to the rally, saying it was just a distraction from the TMC's problems with the government and corruption claims.

"This is Mamata Banerjee's plan to stir up feelings in the region before the elections." He said, "The people won't fall for it."

How Important the Protest Was

Bigger national debates are going on about the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and making sure people are citizens, especially in Assam, which the July 16 protest is connected to. The TMC has always been against these kinds of moves, saying that they hurt linguistic and religious communities, especially Bengalis, more than they help.

The protest, which Mamata Banerjee will lead, is expected to send a strong political message about regional identity, acceptance, and people's rights.