West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee calls for a new ‘Bhasha Andolon’ to protect Bengali speakers from alleged harassment in BJP-ruled states, highlighting rising linguistic discrimination and deportation fears. She warns against “language terror” and announces statewide protests starting July 27.
In a powerful and emotional address on Thursday afternoon, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee reignited the debate over linguistic identity and regional dignity by asserting that a new “Bhasha Andolon” (Language Movement) is necessary to defend the Bengali language and its speakers from what she described as “language terror” and systemic harassment in BJP-ruled states.
The Chief Minister made these remarks during a commemorative programme observing the death anniversary of legendary Bengali actor Uttam Kumar — a venue many believe she chose deliberately to underscore her message to a culturally conscious Bengali audience.
“Language, civilization, and culture are the backbone of society. Just as ‘mother’ is the first word that a child learns to utter, we learn to speak in our mother tongue,” Mamata said passionately. “But these days, Bengali is under attack. Our people are being harassed simply for speaking the language of their roots. This calls for a new Bhasha Andolon. If necessary, we must rise again to protect the dignity of our mother tongue.”
While delivering her speech, Mamata alluded to what she described as rising instances of torture, harassment, and illegal detentions of Bengali-speaking individuals across BJP-governed states like Haryana and Rajasthan. She referred to a growing number of reports received by West Bengal Police about identity checks, pushbacks, and alleged wrongful deportations of West Bengal citizens—even those with proper documentation—to Bangladesh.
“Linguistic Terror Must Stop”
Taking to her official X handle (formerly Twitter), Mamata Banerjee wrote, “The West Bengal Police are receiving these reports from Haryana Police in the name of requests for identity searches. There are tortures and tortures on hapless poor Bengali workers from West Bengal in these states. This is atrocious and terrible.”
She further expressed shock over these developments, labeling them as “linguistic terror” — a phrase she emphasized multiple times. “What do you want to prove? This is atrocious. We are not going to tolerate this. Stop this linguistic terror,” she warned.
The Chief Minister’s strong words have stirred fresh political controversy. Her statement drew comparisons with the historic “Bhasha Andolon” of East Pakistan, a powerful movement that eventually led to the creation of Bangladesh in 1971 after long-standing demands to recognize Bengali as a national language were ignored.
Critics argue that invoking the legacy of that movement may be politically opportunistic, but supporters believe Mamata’s message is a timely reminder of the need to preserve linguistic identity in a rapidly centralizing national landscape.
Political and Cultural Symbolism
Political analysts believe the timing and setting of her statement were significant. Uttam Kumar, the late matinee idol of Bengali cinema, remains a cultural icon in Bengal. By choosing his death anniversary as a platform, Mamata may have been appealing directly to the emotional and cultural sensibilities of Bengali-speaking citizens.
Her words are likely to resonate with a large section of the electorate, especially those who feel increasingly alienated by what they perceive as the imposition of Hindi or the marginalization of regional languages by the central government.
Protests Announced
Earlier this week, Mamata announced that the Trinamool Congress would begin a series of weekend protests from July 27 to oppose the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking individuals in BJP-ruled states.
The protests, she said, will highlight the discrimination faced by Bengalis outside the state and reinforce the need for linguistic inclusivity across India. “This is not just about Bengal. This is about the right of every Indian to speak their mother tongue without fear or prejudice,” she added.
| Also Read: Operation Sindoor: 9 PoK terror camps destroyed by Indian Air Force |
As the political discourse intensifies, Mamata Banerjee’s call for a modern “Bhasha Andolon” is likely to become a major issue in the state and national political landscape — one that touches the emotional core of Bengali identity, history, and pride.
