If even one name is removed, we’ll bring down BJP govt : Mamata Banerjee

Highlights of Mamata Banerjee’s speech at the end of the protest march against Special Intensive Review (SIR) in Kolkata :

My greetings to all. People from the cultural and entertainment industries are also here. I am grateful to all the attendees here. Many sportspersons are also here who have made the nation and our State proud. I am grateful to them. My Matua brothers and sisters are also here, they have come from far away places. I extend my greetings and respect to all of you and to people from all walks of life and communities. Many common people have also come, and many could not even enter because of the crowd

Even the media cannot always say everything. They are told what to say and what not to say. They are no longer unbiased, but that is not entirely their fault because they do a job. You say something and they show the other side, but even they are afraid. I feel that they are also thinking whether their names or their relatives’ names will be on the voter list or not

There are many workers in the unorganised sectors, they are also worrying about their names on the list. The same is true for migrant workers. Just because you speak in Bengali, that does not make you Bangladeshi. Similarly, speaking in Hindi or Urdu does not make you Pakistani. We have a Punjab in India and one in Pakistan, that does not mean you will throw people away

They are calling everyone Bangladeshi. They are illiterates who have nothing in their heads! Where was the BJP during India’s freedom struggle? They were not even born, so how will they know about it. Before 1947, India, Bangladesh, and Pakistan were together – India before independence. After independence, Bangladesh and Pakistan were separated and people chose where they wanted to go. Some came to India and some went to Pakistan and Bangladesh

They create narratives [against me] using AI. The BJP is spending crores on this. They are the biggest zamindars of India, they are the biggest looters. They have used so many agencies to spread fake news. I tell them that in the coming days you will no longer be in power, so this will backfire. They use such derogatory language which we cannot even repeat. They can even defeat the demon, so we do not have to learn from them

There are a few traitors in the BJP who say whatever they want. They have a convoy of hundreds of cars and yet, they call themselves ‘people’s leader’, with so many bodyguards. This is their audacity! A lawyer informed me that yesterday that a ‘babu’ will go to a district and there should be no crowd. Are you not ashamed to treat people like bonded labours? Is the police for this? If you have the guts, go alone and understand the opinion of the people. Just because you have money, you can make videos and capture spaces on social media and godi media, but you are not worthy of ‘people’s Godi’ [throne]

They [BJP] would not even have won this time. Suddenly the ECI increased their vote percentage, is this a victory? What did they do in Maharashtra? They know they cannot win by votes, so they want to win through notes. This is why, I am not telling the chair, but the ‘babu’. I will not say which babu I am referring to. It may be grade one or the lower ones. I respect the chair, but there is a limit to doing dalali

You have surpassed every level of torture. I have seen a few original electoral lists which Abhishek gave to me. In Cooch Behar and Alipurduar, there were 700 voters in the 2002 electoral list. But now in the new list [published by the ECI] that has changed. I am not here to give glamour or footage to anyone. I am here to say what I have to say. They are saying that they have made the SIR historic. When they listen to Bengali, they lose their minds. They go to the teleprompter when they have to speak in Bengali. The same happens with Hindi and other languages too. These are their new tricks, but I am not bothered about it

If 700 voters were there, how can you remove 526 voters? They have removed names from the 2002 list. They are lying and now, they will make everyone fill the forms again. How much did you have to pay for Aadhaar cards? Rs 1,000 was taken for it, was it not theft? Ask them to answer. When you go to the bank to open an account, they want Aadhaar linking. Whom are you deceiving? If Aadhaar cards serve no purpose as ID proof, then bring a revolution and change the government in Delhi. There will be no need for Aadhaar then. How many cards do you want to introduce?

We did a movement for the EPIC card. We said – no ID card, no vote by approaching the ECI. How did you win the 2024 Lok Sabha Elections? Which voter list did you follow? If the list is faulty then your government is also faulty, BJP! Karte hai loot, bolte hai jhuth – this is their true face

Every year they have to do something. Demonetisation was done overnight. I was the first one to oppose it. Did you bring back black money? It was the opposite, black money was transferred outside from the country. People queued up [to exchange the old currency notes] and 100 people died and they did not even offer any condolences. They should be ashamed of themselves!

Now, the LIC money is also gone and even that is unsafe. They do whatever they feel like. We have Mir Jafar now in present-day India. They have blood on their hands from riots. They have burnt so many houses, I will not name each instance. Do they think they will go to heaven after all of this? There is factionalism within their party too

They are envious of Bengal because they know they can capture many States but they cannot capture Bengal. It is because Kolkata was once the capital of British India, however, it was shifted to Delhi because the Britishers could not control the people of Bengal. We are revolutionary people. These people think they will remove 2 crore names and deport people to Bangladesh, or move them to detention camps and throw them out of the country to capture power

I am hearing that a few traitors say they will not win if names are not removed. They say they got 39% vote-share and AITC got 40%, but as far as I remember, in 2004 I got 39% vote-share and won alone as an AITC candidate in Bengal. Now if you think you will win 294 seats by cutting 2-3% vote-share, then you are living in a fool’s paradise. Your voters will now vote for us because they care about their existence

After all these years we will have to give proof of our citizenship? They can make fake certificates, but can we? I tell these ‘feku babus’, show your strength if you can. The last SIR in Bengal was done in 2001 after the polls, and after that there were no polls in 2002-03. The next election happened in 2004. The draft list was used for polling and back then it took two years for the SIR. But what happened suddenly now? To please Modi babu and Amit Shah they are doing this?

Bihar could not understand at first, but when they understood the process [SIR], their names were already removed. We caught them beforehand. We will also see what has to be done. If one legitimate person is removed from the voter list, we will make sure to break the BJP government! We also have information. They called three of our MLAs the day before yesterday saying that they have CBI cases against them and they have to pay money. We will find out who is doing this and file a case. Do not be afraid if they send agencies. Take legal help

One of their [BJP] leaders said that if people vote for them, there will be no fencing between India and Bangladesh, as if he will capture Bangladesh. I do not know the motive behind this. Those who came over to India during independence, we did not do it. Remember, everyone has been given equal rights as per the Constitution

They are saying that all Bangladeshis will be removed and all Rohingyas have come over to Bengal. Then how many Rohingyas did you remove from Bihar? Did you manage to get the numbers of Bangladeshis and Rohingyas removed from Bihar? For the sake of argument, even if Rohingyas came, they are in jail, and the figures they claim, those many Rohingyas do not even exist

When there was unrest in Bangladesh, they said that those who came till 2024 will not be sent away. So does this mean that you will add them to the voter list? They are not entitled to this, only those whose names were there and who did it with proper documents are entitled

They did a camp in Diamond Harbour saying that it was being done by Punjab National Bank, but in reality the BJP did this to collect data using agencies. How can they do such a thing without the consent of the State Government? They are misusing a Central institution’s name to gather data. Do not give any information to them, give it only to the official BLOs

Many a times household members are not at home for work purposes or otherwise. Should that mean that their names will be removed? This is why we have set up help desks across the State under AITC’s banner. Contact them and they will help you. Aadhaar card will be accepted as a document but you will need one more document. Many of you may have house deeds or rent receipts or some other address proof. Nowadays everyone has a bank account. We have so many schemes and all allowances are given through DBT. Apart from this, the school certificate will also be considered as it is considered as a birth certificate. You can also show your caste or OBC certificate

They are making tall claims. They are saying, “bring the certificate of the parents of your ‘pishi’.” They do not even know how to respect. How will they do it? When the father was taking oath as a minister, the son did not attend because of jealousy. What more do you expect from them?

When we were born, we came to Kolkata but were born at home. There was no institutional delivery back then. How will we get birth certificates? I have been MP seven times, Chief Minister three times, and Central minister four times, will I have to give you a justification now? I am not able to speak like them in filthy language, but that does not mean that you will say it and I will stay quiet. Civility is not our weakness

Why did you not do the census all these years? They send letters to us during the festivities. They have appointed a person from Odisha to look after the population census. They did one SECC before we came to power and many names were removed. CPI(M) did not do the work properly back then, which is why this happened. Now we have a count based on the beneficiary list of our schemes. We removed 1.5 crore ration cards because of corruption. CPI(M) used to take away the money and not give the food grains. Then we made digital cards, so that too is a proof

How much more money will you smuggle outside? Even foreign nations are seeing your true face. They are saying things which even we do not say. I have already said that names have been removed from the list despite their names being in the 2002 list. If they had done it in the next election, I would not have said anything. If someone who died and their name is removed, we would not have said anything. I am only talking about legitimate voters

Have you heard the name of Dwijen Mukhopadhyay, a legendary figure of Rabindra Sangeet? His name is not there in the new list after mapping. If they can remove his name, they can remove everyone else’s name. His entire family’s name is not there. If you make a mistake, what should be the punishment?

If you are such a big nationalist, then answer this. There are four election-bound States. You will declare the polls in February, so we have three months in between. Can you cover the 10 crore population and fill all the forms in these three months, something which took 2-3 years? You could have done it after the polls

Why not Assam? It is because you would have lost. I challenge you! You cannot always win with false votes. There are four election-bound States, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Assam. You did SIR in three Opposition-ruled States but why not the double-engine State?

If the Rohingyas and Bangladeshis come, where will they come from? The Rohingyas will come from Nagaland, Mizoram, and Arunachal Pradesh. Did you do SIR there? Bangladeshis come from Tripura and Assam also. You removed 19 lakh names there and 12 lakh were Hindus and other religions. They have such audacity that they will do whatever they please just because they are in power. Why is Assam left out?

I feel even the BLAs will not do the amount of work which the ‘Kursi Babu’ is doing. They are completely full of nepotism. Mir Jafar Babu has now made his son the ICC President, and when any of our people join, they talk about dynasty politics, and now they are giving top posts to their family

They have deployed the BSF who are picking up people and harassing and assaulting them for no reason. Now they are in the Matua dominated areas and organising all kinds of illegal camps. How much did they take for these cards? When the elections come, they remember you. Mir Jafar Babu has said that even if 3 lakh Matua votes are removed, he will also cut 1.5 crore votes from the other side

It is very sad to hear about those who have lost their lives because of SIR-NRC. Many people cannot withstand the trauma. It is not that people are dying, they are also destroying the lives of the children who are dependent on them. They are taking away their future. Seven people have died so far, over 100 people have died in Assam because of NRC. Despite this, whatever lies they say you are believing them

If we do something, you will easily catch us because we are common people. But these people are dangerous like the mafia gangs. Why are you doing SIR three months before the polls? Why not do it afterwards? We will provide all cooperation. Even I am not clear if I have to enrol myself in the electoral list again. It is because even if my name is there in 2002, there is uncertainty

Even Abhishek Banerjee did not have his name in the 2002 list. He gave his first vote in 2006. Look what they are doing to the middle class and youth. During Rajiv Gandhi’s tenure, the voting age was brought down from 21 to 18. It was done in 1989. How will people get their parents’ birth certificates who migrated back then? Do you want to fall prey to this conspiracy? Go to our camps if your names are being removed. Tell them about the issue and get hold of the new documents. Think carefully and do not lose your lives. All lives are important

Many applications have came to us through ‘Amader Para, Amader Samadhan’. We completed all the applications and gave so many caste certificates during our tenure. If you do not have an Aadhaar card, get it from the BSK. Tell the BLO if any of your family members are not at home so they can come at another time. Remember, BLO is the government official and the BLA-2 is from the party. Do not go to fake camps, BJP is very much capable of organising one. Safeguard your own rights

If you do not have the papers, go to the ward offices, municipality offices, or the gram panchayats. If you cannot go anywhere, come to our camps. I want to help you all and all of your names must be there. I cannot decide who you will vote for, but I can help you. We will fight on the streets and in the courts too

It is the people who are the strength in democracy. They bought the media and judiciary, now they think they can buy democracy, hack the EVMs, and remove the voters’ names. It cannot be that rights will be taken away. My vote is my right. Bengal gave its blood and most of the freedom fighters are from Bengal during India’s freedom struggle. Bengal is not afraid. Go and see in the Andaman Cellular Jail, 90% are Bengali and 10% are Punjabi

We have to continue our fight. Do not be afraid of the agencies, all of this is happening because of the elections. Take legal help if required. Remember, if a letter comes from Assam, throw it away. To the Matuas, do not be afraid, Didi is there. I will do whatever I have to do. If they use force to deport you, then many others will also have to face the force. Minorities also need not worry

Bengal’s capability will be shown in the heart of Delhi against the zamindars on Delhi soil : Abhishek Banerjee

Highlights of Abhishek Banerjee’s speech at the end of the protest march against Special Intensive Review (SIR) in Kolkata

We started the rally from Maidan, it’s nearly 4 km to Jorasanko. Everyone who has walked this path with us and participated in this mega michil; AITC workers and supporters, religious leaders of all faiths, people from the arts, sportspersons are the trustees of Bengal’s culture and heritage

In the seven days since the BJP-affiliated body and the Election Commission of India announced the SIR, we have lost many citizens in Bengal; their families are on this stage today, and I extend them my deepest gratitude and respect

As far as my eye can see, there is a huge gathering here. This was organised in just two days. We announced the day before yesterday that, led by Mamata Banerjee on Kolkata’s Red Road, we would stage a mega michil against the SIR, the step-motherly attitude of the central government, and the continuous deprivation and humiliation of Bengal. While we marched, people gathered on both sides of the road; ordinary office-goers showered us with love and gratitude, and we are eternally grateful

If we can do this with two days’ preparation, imagine what we can do in two months in Delhi, think about that, my BJP friends. It’s no use trying to surprise us with long speeches. The plan that took place at the heart of Kolkata on July 21, when Trinamool had not yet been created, was organised under the banner of the Congress

We will rise in revolt against those whose demand for “verified” documents has alienated people from their fundamental voting rights. Thirteen young people gave their lives on that fateful day of July 21. Since then, whenever someone in India exercises their voting right, they remember Mamata Banerjee’s Youth Congress, and that memory is written in golden letters in Bengal. Today, if we have to sacrifice our lives to protect people’s rights, Bengalis will not give up their self-respect. If we bow, we will do so only to the 10 crore Bengalis, not to Delhi. We will not sell our spine

When we did Nabo Jowar, we said we would either arrange alternative sources of money ourselves or go to Delhi and get back what is owed. The representatives of Bengal; the Tapasi, tribes and tribal communities were dragged by their hair by Amit Shah-controlled Delhi police in October, 2023. We had vowed to show them the might and resilience of Bengal. We took to the streets with the blessings of the people of Bengal. On one side was the will of 10 crore Bengalis; on the other were the central government’s ED, CBI, leaders, the Supreme Court, the High Court and many decision-making bodies, media personnel, income-tax officials, ECI and paramilitary forces; they all lost. Bengal’s people have won. The Supreme Court has passed judgement that 100 days’ work funds must be released

When they issued the SIR notification in June, we said that if even a single genuine voter’s name is removed, Bengal’s capability will be shown in the heart of Delhi against the zamindars on Delhi soil

The seven people who committed suicide, all their names were included in the voter rolls and then removed. Whenever they wish, they label someone Bangladeshi and deport them. A pregnant woman and six family members were deported even after the High Court ruled that both her parents’ names were on the 2002 voter list and in the draft roll. They labelled her Bangali and deported her. Bengal will answer this. These seven people lost their lives although their names were on the list and were later removed. Tomorrow, Trinamool will go to Delhi to protest against the SIR and show the might of Bengal to the entire country, be ready to go to Delhi

Earlier, people exercised their right to vote to elect the government. Now PM Narendra Modi’s government chooses who will get to exercise that right. Ten years ago, on November 8, 2016, they announced demonetisation and withdrew the Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. Suddenly they say Aadhar has no value; suddenly they say voter cards are not valid; suddenly they say ration cards have no validity

The day before yesterday Amit Shah said in an interview that those who were not born here don’t have any right to vote. I want to ask Amit Shah: if you have the guts, come and say you meant that L.K. Advani cannot vote because he was born in Karachi

To our Matua brothers who came from Bangladesh: BJP is performing a drama and saying they’ve opened camps for you, but they haven’t given anyone citizenship. Don’t fall into their trap, if you go to their camps, you will suffer the same fate as the 12 lakh Hindus in Assam. I say that as long as even a single Trinamool worker stands on this soil, not a single Matua or Rajbanshi will be deported. We will not allow it; they will have to walk over our dead bodies before that happens

I am hearing that Matua Mahasangha cards are being sold at Rs 800; that is the BJP. People who play with others’ hopes, politicise religion, divide communities and create discord in Bengal have been doing this for years. In the fire of their conspiracy, Bengal’s 10 crore people will light a fire of hope and show everyone what harmony and tradition mean

I extend my gratitude and pranam to the people of Bengal. BJP lost in Bengal in 2021, 2016, 2019 and 2024. Tell me with a show of hands: are you all ready to go to Delhi? My Matua brothers, will you go to Delhi? Raise your hands. We will show the might of Bengal. Are you ready to answer the BJP?

Those who ask us to produce papers should first show their fathers’ and grandfathers’ papers, and then ask for ours. This land is as much mine as yours; it is as much a Muslim’s as a Hindu’s, as much a Christian’s as a Sikh’s. It is as much a Matua brother’s land as a Rajbanshi mother’s. Unity in diversity is our mantra

Today, on the holy land of Thakurbari, I promise that those who have insulted Bengal and deprived us of MGNREGA, Jal Jeevan Mission, PM Awas, Gram Sadak Yojana, Sarva Shiksha Mission, and are acting unilaterally and treating us like a remote-controlled toy — we will answer them in the 2026 assembly elections. This is not merely a fight to make Mamata Banerjee CM for a fourth term; it is to reduce the BJP to zero

Twelve BJP MPs from Bengal were elected to power by the people and Bengal and have taken our money, and 77 BJP leaders became MLAs. We must reduce them to zero. If the 12 MPs had not won and AITC had 40 seats instead, what would have happened today? BJP would be gone. Bihar still has elections in a few days; they are walking with crutches and giving long speeches. Standing on this Thakurbari, Mamata Banerjee declared in 2019 that we will not allow NRC. Could Amit Shah or the BJP force it? The way BJP is trying to impose it, AITC will show what revolt means in the next two months in Delhi

As long as the voter list work continues, I beg you all not to fear. Trinamool workers are on the ground in every anchal and ward; there is a Trinamool help desk in every assembly constituency. We have conducted almost 7,000 camps across Bengal from Cooch Behar to Kakdwip. As long as Trinamool stands beside the people, no one can subjugate Bengal

When we fought in 2023 over the 100-day funds, they tried to stop us but could not. We sat on a dharna at Raj Bhavan, fought legally, and 2.58 crore job-card holders emerged victorious. Tomorrow, 10 crore Bengalis will do the same. In the next election, simply making Mamata Banerjee CM again is not enough, those who have harassed, insulted and deprived Bengal, and labelled us Bangladeshis at every turn, will be thrown out of Bengal; their anti-Bengal campaign will be buried

Many think that saying ‘Joy Bangla’ will make BJP label them as Bangladeshis, don’t worry. Bangla has such power that the Indian president has stood on Bengal’s soil and said ‘Joy Bangla’. Now one has any power to do anything. Say it proudly: Joy Bangla

If a single genuine voter’s name is removed, one lakh people will gherao the ECI’s office in Delhi: Abhishek Banerjee

Trinamool Congress National General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee addressed the media today at Trinamool Bhavan. Here are some important excerpts from Abhishek Banerjee’s remarks at Trinamool Bhavan:

We saw yesterday how the BJP’s affiliated body, the Election Commission of India, has announced SIR in Bengal. And during this festival season, where it is Chhath Puja today, they said from today itself SIR will start. The Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar did a press conference on how the SIR will be conducted. Our party’s stand on this has always been clear, that SIR’s intention is not really a revision but an exclusion on how to remove voters from the voter list and take away their rights, and deprive people of their fundamental rights is their only aim

We are standing at a place where the condition of the country is such that earlier, people used to vote and decide who will govern the country, but now the government decides who will be able to vote. The Central government is choosing who will be able to vote, who will be in the list, and who won’t

Their aim is not to make the list error-free, because if that was the aim, then this is the same voter list on which the 2024 Lok Sabha elections were held, where including Bengal, 543 MPs were elected and consequently the Central government and the PM as well. If this voter list is indeed full of errors, then the first duty of the Central government would have been to dissolve the Lok Sabha and conduct elections again. We are not running away

If this voter list is full of errors, then I have also been elected through the same, the PM and all the Central govt ministers; Home Minister, Finance Minister, Defence Minister, everyone. They should all give in their resignations and then conduct SIR. No one is stopping you

In 2002, the SIR that was conducted, which they are using as a benchmark, took two years. Now they wish to do the same in two months, which the ECI has decided, and not just in Bengal, in 12 States/UTs together

But you might have seen yesterday, the 5 States in which there are elections next year in April, which includes Bengal, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Assam, and Puducherry, of which Assam has been left out, and that is the only State in which BJP is ruling. Then where BJP is ruling, where there are elections in 2026, there won’t be an SIR? But it will happen in Bengal! They have said that in Assam, CAA has been implemented, so it [SIR] wouldn’t happen there. So why do you spin so many stories on One Nation, One Constitution, One Election?

In which rule of the ECI does it say that during voter list revision, it will be done in one State but not the other? Under whose influence are the CEC and ECI working? Why are they so obsessed with Bengal? Why will there be no SIR in Assam? They have not been able to give a satisfactory answer to that. There were many media personnel present yesterday who questioned a lot, I salute them. Gradually, our media is also changing. The questions they [media] posed, they [ECI] could not answer a single question well

You say that in Bengal some voters are invalid citizens; there are Bangladeshis, Rohingyas. I want to show you a map of India. [Shows Indian Political Map]

Here is a red border; on one side is Pakistan, on one is Myanmar, upwards there is Bhutan and Nepal, and to the east there is Bangladesh. Now let us zoom into the northeast region of India which borders Bangladesh and Myanmar. See, the yellow map in the middle is Bangladesh. On that, on one side there is Bengal, on another there is Meghalaya, on one there is Assam, on one Tripura and Mizoram. So Bangladesh shares its border with 5 States. But SIR is happening only in Bengal, the rest are exempt

15 days ago in Tripura, 21 Bangladeshis were caught. Have you [media] not reported? Have the media personnel not reported that in August-September, Rohingyas were caught in Assam? Let me reiterate: Bangladesh borders 5 States but SIR is being carried out in Bengal only

Look at Myanmar’s borders; there are 4 bordering States. People who come from Myanmar are called Rohingyas. And BJP netas say that there are 1 crore Rohingyas in Bengal. Bengal doesn’t even share a border with Myanmar, I am showing you on the map. The States which do border it are Mizoram, Manipur, Nagaland, and Arunachal Pradesh. So if there are Rohingyas in India, they will have entry through either of these 4 States. So my question is, what is the intention of the ECI?

If you say that the aim is to stop illegal infiltration, then you must stop them at the border, that’s where the process must start. If a Rohingya has to come to Bengal, then they will also get there through either of the 4 States. Then why are these States exempt from SIR? That’s my question. Their intention is only one: to insult Bengal, to label Bengalis as Bangladeshis, to mock the Bengali language, and since they have lost poorly in 2021 and gone down from 18 to 12 seats in 2024, they want to deprive us of our fundamental rights. We will not let that happen

I have said this before and I say this again. If a single genuine voter’s name is removed, 1 lakh people will gherao the ECI’s office in Delhi. If you have the guts, Amit Shah’s Delhi police should try and stop us

Yesterday, you must have seen the Supreme Court’s order. The High Court slapped them on one cheek and the Supreme Court on the other. I used to say during Nabo Jowar that in front of the people’s will, everything else is unmatched, whoever that may be

We had gone to Delhi to ask for Bengal’s rightful dues, but they dragged and threw us out of Krishi Bhavan. Who? Amit Shah’s Delhi police. Even the SC, ST, and Tapasili representatives, even women were dragged by their hair, Birbaha Hansda was thrown out. Leaders like Dola Sen, Mahua Moitra, and others were also present there

We had said that either we will take this fight to Delhi and explain to the Zamindars the power of Bengal or we will arrange for the funds ourselves. Our govt sent money through direct bank transfer to 69 lakh job-card holders whose money was pending in February 2024. Today marks almost four years since the money was stalled. Almost Rs 50,000 crore to Bengal under the MGNREGA is pending. Money for roads, Grameen Sadak Yojana, AWAS, Jal Jeevan Mission, Sarva Shiksha Mission is stalled. This is how they wish to torture Bengal and Bengalis

If you want to do SIR, why did you not do it after the 2023 PRI election? There was a year in between 2023 panchayat and 2024 Lok Sabha

BJP is saying that if SIR is conducted, AITC’s vote bank will be eradicated. Trinamool will lose. Write down today’s date, I am saying this in front of 50+ cameras; if BJP has the guts, they will accept this challenge. Do SIR, but I challenge them that if a single genuine voter is removed, Delhi will witness Bengal’s might. October 2023 was the trailer, but you will see the full cinema in the coming days. Bengal, Gujarat, and MP are not the same

I give them many challenges. I had challenged them before regarding unpaid dues. I had asked them to select the channel, the spokesperson, the time, and I will come. But no one accepted. PM had said at a public meeting that ‘we have given so much money to Bengal Awas Yojana’ and I asked him to provide proof. To select a place and come bearing proof, he did not. I challenge them again today

When CM Mamata Banerjee gives Kanyashree, Lakshmir Bhandar, does she do that looking at the vote bank? Or when she constructs roads? When she gives 12 lakh people money for houses from the State’s coffers such that common men and women do not have to pay 10 paise more, did she do that based on vote bank politics? Can they show that?

Today, I tell them again, that even if by one seat, we will increase our seats in 2026; there is no space for losing. And BJP will decrease to 50. If you have the guts, accept the challenge. And if the seats percentage increases even after SIR, use whatever means you have at your disposal. You did it previously as well, you stopped 100 days’ work funds. Did you succeed? We will by any means get the money. Legally we will fight. Contempt will be filed if you violate the guidelines of the court. And political fight will continue too

And if after SIR you lose, then BJP leaders should sign an undertaking or keep media personnel as witnesses and say that ‘if we lose in 2026 and Trinamool’s seat share increases even by one, we will release Rs 2 lakh crore unpaid dues within a week.’ Or I will do whatever you say. This is my open challenge to the BJP!

You project yourselves as the protectors of Hindus. Today, a man has died in Khardaha, named Pradeep Kar. How many BJP leaders have asked? And they say that Mamata Banerjee does vote bank politics? The first people to go to their house and lend a hand of support were from Trinamool

In Regent Colony, Netaji Nagar, two people have died. I contacted their family [of Pradeep Kar] and learnt that after it was announced yesterday, the man locked his door and took his own life. And in his suicide note, he said that SIR and NRC are the cause of his death. How much blood do you want on your hands? They have so much pride they don’t care about other people’s lives. Almost 700 people died due to the Farm Bills, have they taken notice? So many have committed suicide due to NRC, today they’re doing it because of SIR. You started this game, we will finish it

It has been 11 years since the Modi govt came to power. How many representatives from Bengal [18 in 2019 and 12 in 2024] have even written a letter to say that the poor are dependent on the 100 days’ work for their livelihoods? That 2.58 crore people need this? Have they ever approached the PM, or the related department authorities, or any minister to stop this deprivation of Bengal? People who are elected from Bengal’s people? They have no shame

They are slyly freezing the administration also. We are supposed to be in govt till 2026, and then by doing SIR now they are taking away the next 7 months. In Lok Sabha they took away 6 months. 13 months gone, so when is the government supposed to work?

They are releasing water whenever they want. Asking the Chief Secretary to come. This started in 2021 when Alapan Bandopadhyay was the Chief Secretary then. Within 10 days they show-caused him. In the name of post-poll violence dragging Bengal’s name through the dirt in front of the whole country

In Sandeshkhali, they framed a lie and paying women money to sign on blank papers. You have all seen the video. They should all apologise to Bengal. Where BJP’s spokesperson is admitting to their misdeed. Women are saying that they don’t know; they just signed because they were asked to. They are stalling thousands of crores in the name of GST, Central schemes. Not allowing Mamata Banerjee to speak at the July 2024 NITI Aayog meeting, stopping her mic. Is this not an insult to Bengal?

The BJP leader who said that there is no language such as Bengali is still retained in his position. The BJP CM who said that whoever is speaking in Bengali should be arrested, in that State itself SIR is not being conducted. That is his reward. That is why we call BJP Bangla Birodhi

At Nabo Jowar many people had told me that going to Delhi will be of no use. I said that results come later, but there should be no effort left in trying. We were beaten, we arranged for alternative sources for funds. Yesterday’s victory is for the 2.58 crore job-card holders

The North Bengal seats where they have won, have they asked once after the floods? During elections they travel there daily: they come in the morning, stay in 5-star hotels, have good food, insult Bengal and go in the evening. Where are they when Bengal needs them? Mamata Banerjee has gone twice in 7 days. She stayed there for a week and made arrangements for a parallel bridge within 15 days

Current or past BJP MPs from Bengal; are their parents included in the lists before 2002? Amit Shah and Gyanesh Kumar are responsible for Pradeep Kar’s death. There should be FIRs against them. They give long speeches. They run from elections, we don’t. In Bengal there are two bypolls pending, why did you not conduct those with Bihar? Because you know you will lose terribly. From 2024 till present there have been 12 bypolls and we have won all. From 303, you were reduced to 240, and next election you will come down to 100

After losing in 2021, they are using the decision-making bodies, Central agencies, from the back door to control Bengal. Now similarly, they are using SIR to introduce a backdoor NRC.

I don’t know when Gyanesh Kumar has come to Bengal. I welcome him to come, but don’t confuse it with Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat. Read history; Bengal renaissance, the independence movement, the contribution of Bengali revolutionaries. If this land didn’t exist you wouldn’t be able to write your own name or speak. And this land will not bend to the will of zamindars like you

The way ECI is acting like an agency of BJP, I am warning them, as a parliamentarian, that sooner or later the government will change. BJP and Amit Shah won’t stay but the Constitution will

 

Under the guise of SIR, there is an attempt to delete genuine voters : Mamata Banerjee

Today, Hon’ble Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a press conference at Nabanna. Here are some excerpts from her address:

Right after the Puja, NRC notices have again started coming from Assam. In Nadia, two of our citizens from Bengal have already received such notices. This raises the question — why has the festival period been chosen to conduct the SIR? At a time when Bengal is facing natural calamities, with Kali Puja, Chhath Puja, and Jagaddhatri Puja around the corner, and many areas submerged under floodwater — how can officers be summoned and threatened? Four officers have reportedly called BLROs and threatened them to prepare documents as per their instructions.

They were able to conduct it in Bihar because Bihar has a BJP/NDA government, and the agencies there helped in it. But Bengal’s community composition is completely different. Here, besides Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians, there are also SCs, STs, and other minority communities. NRC notices have already been sent to Rajbongshis, minority groups, and migrant workers.

The SIR process itself is a fraud. It does not involve the public — instead, a few officers are called for meetings and threatened, while the State Government is completely excluded from these discussions.

There are several complaints against the CEO of West Bengal himself, which I will reveal at the right time. But I hope he does not overreact. He has been threatening many officers.

Under the guise of SIR, there is an attempt to delete genuine voters. How can the Assam government send notifications to voters in Bengal? Moreover, before the SIR even began, how could a Union Minister declare that 1.5 crore voters will be removed? Does that mean plans are being made in party offices, and the Election Commission is merely stamping approval? We expect impartiality from the Election Commission. Both the government and the opposition together form the fabric of democracy. Above all, the pillars of democracy are the Constitution and the common people and no one has the right to snatch away a citizen’s right to vote.

During this festive season, many people are engaged in celebrations or have gone on holidays. Others are suffering due to floods. If in this situation the SIR is started and voters’ names are deleted, especially if it targets any particular community, whether Rajbongshi, Nepali, or anyone else, that will never be acceptable.

I have heard that the Home Minister, during a party meeting, mentioned voter deletions. But who gave him that right? Democracy cannot function by excluding people. This is not SIR, this is a backdoor NRC. We strongly condemn the BJP government and Central agencies working under its instructions, who are politicizing and saffronising everything — from education to festivals. There is even a ‘Mir Jafar’ sitting in Delhi. They think they can control everything, but if they continue this way, the truth will come out the cat will be out of the bag. If genuine voters are removed, the people of Bengal will respond in a way no other state can.

If your minister is saying even before the process begins that 1.5 crore voters will be removed, then either remove that minister or admit this is a conspiracy.

Beyond doing politics, manipulating elections, tampering with data, and looting votes, they have done nothing for the people’s development. When citizens are in distress, they refuse to help; but when elections come, they bring out sacks of money. They send the country’s wealth abroad and return wearing gold medals, while the poor in India remain hungry.

They only destroy. Their destructive attitude is precisely why they can never win. How can a proper voter list be prepared in just 15 days? It’s simply impossible.

By what right have they withheld Bengal’s money? : Abhishek Banerjee

Today is the birth anniversary of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar. On this occasion, Abhishek Banerjee visited Vidyasagar College and offered floral tributes at the statue of Pandit Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar.After coming out from the college premises, in response to a question from the press, Abhishek Banerjee said:’Amit Shah must come to the place where Vidyasagar’s statue was vandalised and seek an apology’. Here are some important excerpts from Abhishek Banerjee’s remarks at Vidyasagar College premises:

I don’t want to make this a political event. The reason we have come here today is not because of politics. But since you all have asked, we cannot ignore the incident that occurred here in 2019 and at whose behest [BJP]. The broken statue is still kept inside, do pay your respects when you go in

We have all read about and heard from our elders about Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar while growing up. The way he fought uncompromisingly, the forerunner of the Bengal Renaissance, the creator of ‘Borno Porichoy’, the one who eradicated child marriage: Vidyasagar has contributed to Bengal’s cultural progress time and again. We all learned about him. But those who came from outside, forced North Indian culture on us, and broke Vidyasagar’s statue, people of Bengal gave a befitting response to them

I felt deeply saddened that someone [Amit Shah] who came to inaugurate a puja pandal just 10 minutes away was not even aware that today is the 205th birth anniversary of Vidyasagar. He did not have the courtesy to visit Vidyasagar’s house or Vidyasagar College to pay his respects. This is why we call them Bangla-Birodhi. People have seen it before and they will see it again

Our political battles will continue, but the way they insult Bengal’s stalwarts cannot be forgotten. They don’t know where Rabindranath Tagore was born. They mispronounce Panchanan Barma. They are unaware of the contributions of Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Raja Ram Mohan Roy, or Khudiram Bose. We do not need to learn about Bengal’s culture from them. The person inaugurating a Durga Puja pandal today is the same person who said five years ago that there are no Durga Pujas in Bengal. Today, that very Durga Puja has been recognised by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage site. No other festival or celebration from BJP-ruled States has received such recognition. Our Kanyashree scheme has also received international acclaim. They should learn from us

Today, the Calcutta High Court has also passed an order that the FRRO deportation of a pregnant woman from Birbhum, Sonali Bibi, along with five others, was invalid. The court has ordered their repatriation within four weeks. They are arresting and detaining people just for speaking in Bengali. On Vidyasagar’s birth anniversary, along with the slap that the High Court has delivered today, they must apologise first

First, they should apologise standing before Vidyasagar’s statue. And the way they are going to Durga and Kali temples, may Maa bless them. But the way they ignored Vidyasagar’s contributions, and at his [Amit Shah] behest the statue was broken, those people are still in the BJP, with no action taken against them

I do not want to talk too much about politics today, but since you asked, I answered. I hope today remains apolitical. I am fortunate that when I undertook the Nabo Jowar Yatra in Birsingha GP, Ghatal, I was able to visit Vidyasagar’s birthplace. After coming to power, our AITC government did not just build a ‘torong’ at Ghatal Chandrakona Road, but spent Rs 2.5 crore renovating the entire property. We built a Shishu Udyan, a memorial temple, and an entrance gate. Even in Kolkata, we have undertaken preservation and renovation of his house. We have tried to ensure that the new generation remembers, and history does not forget these contributions

[Reacting to HM Amit Shah’s comment] You should first ask them: when will they release the Rs 2 lakh crore dues owed to Bengal? Why did they stall these funds? And if they say we are lying, let them choose a channel and a time. I will present myself with documents and evidence, even if the channel is theirs. By what right have they withheld Bengal’s money?

He [Amit Shah] speaks of creating a “Sonar Bangla.” Then why don’t you ask him: two days ago in Patna, a main road caved in and cars collapsed in the void. Why were they not able to make Sonar Bihar? Bridges collapse every other day in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. Why not Sonar Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tripura, or Jharkhand? They even use Bengal’s bridges as examples in UP, then why haven’t they built a “Sonar Bridge” in UP in the last seven years? The money they take from Bengal is being used in their own States. Were they able to create a Sonar UP, MP, or Gujarat?

 

Two days ago, Bengal faced incessant rain. Some news outlets highlighted the ‘terrible condition of Bengal’. But when there is 300 mm rain in four hours, naturally there will be difficulties. These disasters should not be politicised. And yet, look at Bengal’s resilience. In 48 hours, we have bounced back. Despite such rainfall, how is Amit Shah moving freely from one place to another? If the city was under water, how is he roaming around? This shows that if the government is determined, it can work, and our government has done so

They promised ‘Annapurna Bhandar’ if they came to power in Bengal. Then why don’t they implement it in Tripura, Assam, or Rajasthan? Why don’t they directly credit Rs 1,000 into women’s bank accounts there, the way CM Mamata Banerjee has done here? We are not in power there, so why not do it in their own States?

My question is, why didn’t he come here from Santosh Mitra Square? It is hardly 10 minutes by car. It is because he is Bangla-Birodhi. They refuse to pay respects to Bengal. The British were defeated by Bengal’s revolutionaries, what is BJP compared to that? They are no match for the people’s determination

This is something only PM Modi or BJP can answer, not me. But let me say this: these are political rhetorics, not welfare schemes. Compare it with Bengal’s model; we launched Lakshmir Bhandar for every woman in the family immediately after elections. We could have waited three years and used it as a political gimmick before 2024, but we did not. For us, governance and welfare are paramount. That is the difference between us. We are with the people 365 days, 24×7, not just before elections

‘Bengal will be run by Bengal, not by Delhi’ : Mamata Banerjee

Today Mamata Banerjee was present at a government service delivery programme in Jalpaiguri.Here are the highlights of her speech:

My respects to Thakur Panchanan Barma. We have established a university in his name, his house has also been revamped. We have given recognition to many languages. Our neighbouring country is facing a problem, I want peace to be restored. I was in Uttarkanya the whole night yesterday so that any untoward incident can be tackled and you all can rest assured

Since 2011, we have given 6.56 lakh pattas – 3.17 lakh Griha Pattas, 1.93 lakh Krishi Pattas, 59,000 Refugee Pattas, 47,000 Forest Pattas, and 39,000 Tea Garden Pattas. On 24 August, we distributed over 7,000 pattas in the districts of North Bengal. Today, we are giving 11,600 pattas. In Alipurduar, two ministers will be present for the distribution

You all know that several houses were destroyed in 2023 due to flash floods. Around 98 families suffered, we have given pattas to them as well today. In Jalpaiguri, projects worth Rs 400 crore have been inaugurated and foundation stones laid. 1.55 lakh people will receive government services from this event today

Under Chaa Sundari, 1,106 families received their papers under the scheme in Alipurduar. In Jalpaiguri, 1,053 families have benefitted and 2,969 houses have already been constructed in Alipurduar. Under the Chaa Sundari extension, over 8,000 and 13,000 families in Alipurduar and 500 families in Uttar Dinajpur have been given financial assistance for house construction

The tea gardens have fixed the bonus rate at 20%. I hope that the Chief Secretary will look into it and monitor it so that no one faces issues in receiving the bonus. Some are trying to play with this, I tell them, please do not play with the wages of the workers

The whole country is marred by floods this year. Even here, both North and South Bengal are suffering. This year there has been incessant rainfall, but the DVC also releases water without control. We have told the Centre that Bengal should be made a member of the Indo-Bhutan River Commission so that we can coordinate. We want our neighbours to stay well but not at the cost of us remaining submerged

We have a universal scheme called Swasthya Sathi where you get coverage of Rs 5 lakh. Delhi tells me why I am not implementing Ayushman Bharat here. I tell them, why should I do it when you will give 40% and I will have to give 60%, and those who have scooters, TVs or pucca houses will not get it. This means out of the 11 crore population here, only 1 crore will benefit leaving out 10 crore people. But ours is universal, we do not discriminate. We do not take a penny from the Centre, we do it all with our own funds

If your crops get destroyed, do not worry as we have crop insurance. We also provide Rs 2 lakh to the families of deceased farmers. Many migrant workers are being tortured for speaking in Bengali. I say speak more in Bengali. I will also see what they can do and to what extent they can go. They are sending notices from Assam to our residents in Alipurduar, Cooch Behar and Jalpaiguri. They are pushing back our people just because they are speaking in Bengali. They are not even sparing tribal women. We will speak in our mother tongue but we will also learn other languages. We do not disrespect any language. Speak in whichever you prefer. Why should I not speak in Bengali? But you cannot control Bengal. Bengal will be run by Bengal, not Delhi

We have already brought back 24,000 migrant workers and their families. Why go to other States at all? We also have 1.5 crore workers from other States working here. We do not misbehave with them and they receive all kinds of benefits. But why should you assault and chase away our people working in the Double-Engine States? I do not need a Double-Engine government. People are the biggest pilot. The country is steered by the common man. They have even stopped the holiday on 25th December

Desh ka neta wahi ho sakta hai jo desh ko samajhta hai, not someone who divides the nation. Do you know why they hate Bengal? It is because without Bengal there could be no freedom struggle. The British were compelled. Kolkata was the capital then and since they were unable to tackle us, they shifted it to Delhi. We will not submit or bow down

The migrant workers who are coming back will receive all kinds of facilities. Ensure that they do not have to pay anything. They will receive Rs 5,000 monthly for a year. We have given 12 lakh houses and in December 16 lakh people will receive them. The Centre has stopped all our funds. They say Bengal does nothing, but it is you who have stopped our funds. It is our rightful due. You have stopped funds for roads for the past four years. You have no right to question our road quality. We are doing whatever we can. You have no right to question us. We do not need Delhi’s mercy

We are proud of Bengal. They have stopped funds for MGNREGA too. But our women are capable of running their households. We have started the Karmashree scheme. Under this, 73.27 lakh job-card holders have received jobs and Rs 19,777 crore has been spent to create 97.61 crore mandays

We have already ensured that 76% in rural areas and 78% in urban areas have received piped water supply. They only know how to do publicity and promotion. All money is spent on promotion. Everything will be done in their name, why? They must learn how to say ‘we’ instead of ‘I’. I have never thought of doing anything in my own name because that would lead to self-disrespect. We must do it in the name of our stalwarts

1.87 crore people will be receiving piped water supply under the Jal Swapna Project at a cost of Rs 65,000 crore. They say that the Centre is giving the money. Let me tell you the truth, we provide 60% whereas they provide 40 percent. Who gives the land and handles maintenance? The state. We bear 90% of the cost while they only spend on their promotion. Despite this, they have stopped all our funds. How can you talk big after this?

Can you stop the floods in UP, Himachal Pradesh, Mumbai or Delhi? Our State is like a boat, if the adjoining areas receive rain, we suffer. We have never seen such floods. You have seen what happened in Punjab and how there was a landslide in Vaishno Devi. Calamities are not in our hands

Even during COVID, I did not take any leave. When I heard about the Nepal issue, I came immediately and was at Uttarkanya all night. I hope that peace will return. For the tourists who have gone there, we have taken this up. Wait for a day or two, we will bring you back. Do not panic or get into any trouble. Allow us to do our work. Let peace be restored first, then we will be happy

We have reduced unemployment by 40 percent. In 2024, 19 crore tourists have come to Bengal. Where else will they go? Many doors are closed. The whole world is burning. We do not like this. We are in favour of humanity and peace. We will make Durga Angan just like Jagannath Dham

North Bengal has 265 tea gardens where 2.70 lakh workers are employed. When elections are around, they say they will open the gardens. This year, we reopened 20 tea gardens and 59 prior to this, all done by the State government

There will be a holiday on Visvakarma Puja as well. Teachers who lost their jobs due to the court’s orders, the recruitment exams have also started along with Group C and Group D notifications. We are consulting the courts, and as soon as the legalities are smoothed out, we will try to support all others too. We have advertised for 35,000 posts but 21,000 are still vacant. We are unable to fill the posts because as soon as we try, someone goes to court and files a PIL. Why are you stopping us in court?

There are many who give money to write all kinds of hateful things on the banners of political parties. They spread hate, disrespect, conspiracy. Crime is a crime. But burning someone in retaliation is not right. I don’t believe in this kind of politics. I don’t take salary from the government either. I am a seven-time MP. If I had taken pension, by now I would be a crorepati, but what need do I have of it?

I am insulted every day because I am from Bengal, but I tolerate it because I know that if I were not here tomorrow, the thieves would steal everything. They will turn Bengal into another Gujarat

BJP is the country’s shame: Mamata Banerjee 

The issues of migrant labourers from Bengal facing atrocities in other states for speaking in Bengali and the BJP-led Union government’s attempts at denying the right of voting to lakhs of people in Bihar, Bengal and other states by making them ineligible on flimsy excuses were taken up strongly by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in her speech in the Assembly today. The BJP legislators reacted, first by throwing paper and then by getting into unnecessary physical altercations with Trinamool representatives. These were condemned by the chief minister. She labelled the BJP as “anti-Bengal” and “vote chor, gaddi chorr”.

Here are the highlights of her speech:

They [BJP] have always said destructive things and done contempt of the House and disrupted the proceedings. I have cut short my time for the BJP MLAs to speak. They are anti-Bengali. They do not love Bengal or Bengalis. They don’t want the people to not listen to me. I have asked the ruling dispensation to remain quiet, but that has to be done both ways. You do not have to listen to us, but at least listen to the Speaker

You are throwing paper in the Assembly. This is unparliamentary, undemocratic, and illegal. They are well aware that their masks will come off if people get to hear what I have to say. Vote chor, gaddi chorr! They are the biggest thieves and torture the Bengalis. They mislead and deceive people. BJP is the country’s shame. I condemn them for committing atrocities on the Bengali language

There will come a day when the people of Bengal will no longer want to see a single BJP person here. All of them will lose. You cannot win by torturing our people. Our MLAs and MPs are attacked using BSF and CISF in the Parliament, but we will not do the same here. Remember, Bengal gave its blood during the freedom struggle. This party [BJP] was not even born then

They have no right to be in power at the Centre. It is only a few more days. I have never seen such a shameless and worthless party. When they will speak, I will tell my bench also not to allow them to speak

They torture people all across the nation and in Bengal. They practise discrimination. They do not fulfil their duties in the Assembly. They do not follow any rules and regulations. I condemn them on behalf of the House. They are doing this deliberately to suppress my voice. They were not here in the morning. They came only a few minutes before I arrived. Their names were called, but they did not speak. I requested the Speaker to allow them to speak, and right after they were done, they started creating a ruckus. This is Bengal and a Bengali’s issue. You cannot silence me

This party had no contribution in our freedom. They are the biggest thieves. They are selling off the nation. They try to stoke communalism and discrimination. They should know that Bengal had the biggest contribution in the freedom struggle. They are traitors and do not let people speak

They do not know Bengal and its history. They do not love the stalwarts of Bengal. They are an autocratic force and torture our people. In Andaman Cellular Jail, the maximum people were from Bengal followed by Punjab. Where were they during the freedom struggle? They were not even born. They were doing dalali for the Britishers. They want to make Bengal dependent again. We will not allow this

One, two, three, four….BJP shob theke boro chor! Not a single one of you can win by insulting Bengal, its people, and its language. No one will vote for you. Are you not ashamed? You are using muscle power, money, and misusing the ECI to win the elections. Are you afraid now? They are scared, that is why they are harassing the people of Bengal

You are a group of thieves, and the person who calls himself the biggest leader has changed three different parties, Congress, then some other party, then Trinamool, and now BJP. After making four changes, do not come and lecture us. It is a party full of turncoats. I will make BJP a big zero by giving a push from the people

You are anti-Bengali and your leaders are thieves. When elections are around, you start talking about CAA and NRC. It has been 5 years. In 2019, you brought the CAA saying that everyone will get citizenship. But what happened? It is the biggest corrupt party

BJP is anti-Bengal and anti-people. They are communal. They will not come to power again. And the one who is talking big is a turncoat. By listening to him, you are going in the wrong direction. Even if my throat is cut, I will speak in Bengali. I respect other languages too, but you are trying to disrespect and defame Bengal and Bengali. I gave my time to you so that you can speak. This is democracy. But what are you doing?

Will we listen to a turncoat who switched parties four times and has neither any ethics nor policy? They have only one work, to act in an anti-Bengali manner. But we do not oppose other languages. You try to bring down Bengal. Modi and Amit Shah are the biggest thieves. BJP hatao, desh bachao! All those who were shouting today were once in Trinamool. But today, for accumulating wealth and to save themselves from clutches of the ED-CBI, they have joined BJP. The people of Bengal will avenge this democratically, unlike you who commit atrocities. We respect democracy, that is why you can still try and disrupt my speech

At times, he [PM] is falling at the feet of the US, and sometimes at the feet of Russia, China, and Israel. By doing this, he has sold away the country and its dignity. Unity and diversity, which was the motive of the freedom struggle, has been destroyed by these people. How will they run the nation? They hate people and do politics of hatred and division. They do all sorts of conspiracies

You conspired with the Britishers and divided the nation and changed India’s capital from Kolkata. Do not call ‘Modi Chor’ [referring to the BJP MLAs]. We respect him as the PM and that is why we do not call him Modi Chor. But it is you who are saying it. Let Modi ji and the BJP leaders hear this. Shame on you all. Are you not ashamed to call your PM a thief? I respect him as the PM, not for him being the head of the BJP. I will tell PM Modi to throw these people out of the party. Protect the honour of the Assembly

You do not respect our freedom fighters, shame on you. And today they are calling Bengali a foreign language. Bengali is the second-most spoken language in Asia and 5th in the world. Bengali is not a foreign language. Those who hate Bengal are anti-Bengali and anti-national

You have stalled Rs 1.95 lakh crore owed to Bengal. You do not give our funds. We said that from health insurance to life insurance, there should be exempt from GST. We were the first to say it. I am proud of my party, that today they are bound to follow what we had said. It was an anti-people decision. You imposed it, but we eliminated it. You have increased the tax burden and then entered into an understanding with 3-4 countries

We show courtesy and let them speak, but they are not allowing me to speak. In the Parliament, our MPs are not allowed to speak. This is the difference. Do not be like them [referring to the AITC MLAs]. We must be disciplined. If for that matter my mic is also turned off, I will also sit down

Actually, they have not got any political teaching. They were only taught how to saffronise everything. The way they behaved today, this is a dark day in the history of the Bengal Assembly. I allowed them to speak. If I protect their democratic right, why are they trying to take away my right to speak? They are sometimes using the agencies to silence me and also spreading misinformation. This is not fair

Bengal gave the national anthem and the national song. We feel proud when our jawans say ‘Jai Hind’. We made a replica of the Andaman Cellular Jail in Alipore. This is Bengal’s contribution. Will you make the nation forget everything just because you are in power for a few years? While one section is patiently listening about the glory of Bengal and the nation, the other section [BJP] is creating a ruckus. You are not just anti-Bengali but also anti-national

Remember, we are citizens not at your mercy. We are citizens because of our freedom fighters. Where were you back then? And now will you decide who will stay in the country and who will not? You are calling people anti-national and Bangladeshi just because they are speaking in Bengali? A person went with his son to a hotel in Noida. He was not even a migrant worker. Despite that, he was not allowed inside. Remember, it is the people who will give you an answer one day

We do not attack Modi ji, but you all do not know how to show courtesy. You do not even know the country. You do not know the sacrifices people made. You are keeping Gandhi ji’s photo below and someone else’s photo above. You can abuse me but not Bengal or its people

You do not give importance to Rabindranath Tagore. But we believe in the harmony of all religions preached by Ramakrishna Paramahansa. You have not learnt all of this. You can only create nuisance

We have brought back 24,000 migrant workers. What was their fault? Just speaking in Bengali? I will ask them to speak in Bengali even more! When you do corruption, we do not get to see any agencies. We do not want to be dependent on anyone, that is why we have started the Shramashree schemes. Under this, we will give Rs 5,000 for one year and all other schemes when our workers from Bengal come back

They have forgotten Gandhi ji. They have forgotten everything. They only care about their own days. It is because they are scared of all our freedom fighters. They think they will lose their posts if they remember these people. They do not have any other identity except the fact that they are Nathuram Godse’s party. The nation will never forgive you. No one will forgive the killers of Gandhi ji

Those who are screaming about CAA, what did they do? Did they give any citizenship to anyone? It is all because of the 2026 polls. They are saying that those who came till 2024, barring Muslims, will not face any issues. But it is you who arrested a Rajbanshi in Cooch Behar and Alipurduar! Why did you torture the Matuas in Mumbai? Why did you torture our tribal brothers and sisters?

Nowhere in law is it mentioned about citizenship. Will you give voting rights and ration cards to those who came till 2024? Nothing is mentioned clearly. This is nothing but lies and deception. They said they will give citizenship, but did not give it in 2019 or 2024. Actually, they had a meeting in Bongaon coming up and that is why this has been done now. There was no discussion in the Parliament about this. This was passed unilaterally. No Select, Standing, or Parliamentary Committees’ opinion was taken [for CAA]. Those who have come until 2024, will you even put their names in the voter list? What a shame. Will you now bank on their votes? No one will vote for you
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Insult to the Bengali language is an insult to Bengal: Abhishek Banerjee

In protest against the harassment of Bengalis in BJP-ruled states, All India Trinamool Congress General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee marched alongside Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on July 16. The rally started at 1 PM from College Square on Wednesday and concluded at Dorina Crossing in Dharmatala.

From Odisha to Jaihind Colony in Delhi, allegations of continuous harassment of Bengalis have been surfacing. People are reportedly being persecuted simply for speaking Bengali. Even electricity and water connections are being cut off. A few days ago, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee vented her anger about this on the social media platform X. This time, Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee took to the streets to protest against the harassment of Bengalis.

After today’s rally, Abhishek Banerjee expressed on the social media, his humble respect and gratitude to all regardless of caste, creed, or religion, who walked in the grand rally with Jananetri Mamata Banerjee, braving the heavy rain in the struggle to protect the dignity of the Bengali language and the honour of Bengalis. In his post, Abhishek Banerjee he further wrote that, in BJP-ruled states, Bengali-speaking workers are being subjected to inhuman atrocities and are being detained by labelling them as ‘Bangladeshis.’ This is nothing but a planned attack on our democracy.

Abhishek Banerjee wrote that the sacred soil of Bengal is the land of Rabindranath Tagore, Kazi Nazrul Islam, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, and Swami Vivekananda. This land is also of the brave martyrs who laid down their lives in the country’s freedom struggle. The BJP must remember: ‘An insult to the Bengali language is an insult to Bengal.’

He wrote that Trinamool Congress is determined to fight against the persecution of Bengali-speaking workers. Democracy has been trampled in BJP-ruled states. He said that he firmly believed that the ordinary people of Bengal will oust the monstrous BJP in the coming elections.”

We will not tolerate atrocities against Bengalis: Mamata Banerjee

In protest against the harassment of Bengalis in other states, the Trinamool Congress took to the streets today. The rally was led by Mamata Banerjee, accompanied by Abhishek Banerjee, Firhad Hakim, Aroop Biswas, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Shashi Panja, Dola Sen and several other senior leaders.
Here are the highlights of Mamata Banerjee’s speech at the rally in Dharmatala: This time, nearly 27,000 lakh cubic metres of water was released from the DVC and Panchet dams. As a result, people across Bengal—in Birbhum, parts of West Midnapore, Jhargram, parts of Bardhaman, Hooghly, Howrah, parts of Nadia, and North and South 24 Parganas—have been flooded. We held a meeting yesterday for them. We will do everything we can. You all must stand by them.

I will not say everything today. You must come on July 21. I am extending an invitation to all of you for the July 21 gathering. There is much less waterlogging in Kolkata now. Only one or two wards get waterlogged. Earlier, even a little rain would cause a lot of waterlogging. Now, 99 per cent of the city does not face waterlogging; the remaining parts will be made waterlogging-free by 2026.

I am deeply ashamed, hurt, saddened and shocked by the behaviour of the government of India and the BJP. The Indian government has issued a notification, which we will challenge. They secretly issued the notification and sent it to BJP-ruled states. It clearly states that if anyone is suspected [of being a Bangladeshi]—simply on the basis of their speaking Bengali—they will be arrested and kept in detention camps. Even if someone visits a relative’s house, this is happening. I respect people of all languages. I respect every Indian. But we will not tolerate atrocities against Bengalis. Has BJP become the landlord of the country? They are sending anyone to jail as they please. If someone speaks in Bengali, they are calling them a Bangladeshi or a Rohingya. But Bangladesh is a separate country. Rohingyas are from Myanmar. How is that our concern? Citizens of West Bengal have Aadhaar cards, PAN cards. There are 22 lakh Bengali migrant workers. They could live much better in Bengal. On the one hand, you will make them work, but if they speak Bengali, you’ll put them in jail, in detention camps? Why? By what right? Is West Bengal not a part of India?

Why do you hate Bengalis? What have they done to you? Rabindranath Tagore celebrated Rakhshabandhan. Both the Indian and Bangladeshi national anthems were written by him. Wasn’t ‘Jana Gana Mana’ written by a Bengali? Back then, the country stood united.

The Union Home Minister controls the CISF and CRPF. Air travel comes under the Union Civil Aviation Ministry. Monitoring infiltration is the job of the Central government.
I’ve heard that in Bihar, 30.5 lakh votes have been deleted. The BJP won in Maharashtra by doing such things. Otherwise, they couldn’t have won. They did the same in Delhi. Now they are planning to do it in Bihar too. The people of Bihar are our brothers and sisters. The BJP is planning the same for Bengal. We will fight against every injustice. We will not give up even one inch without a fight.

People are being suddenly arrested while working. Even after showing documents, they are being taken to jail. Their elderly mothers, wives and children are also being taken. What crime have they committed? Speaking in Bengali? The Centre should remember that our state also has over 1.5 crore migrant workers. We never treat them like this. We give other states’ migrant workers respect, and you insult ours.

In Maharashtra, there have been atrocities against the Matua-speaking people. During elections, you beg for their votes at their homes while at other times, you oppress them. Udayan knows how many Rajbanshis have been pushed back into Bangladesh and kept in jail. People from Nadia have been detained in Chhattisgarh. In Delhi, water and electricity connections of people from West Bengal have been cut off. After getting reports from Chhattisgarh, Mahua Moitra went there to help the Bengali-speaking people of Nadia. In Delhi too, she staged a 48-hour sit-in protest for harassed Bengalis. The Assam government has sent notices to residents of Cooch Behar. What right do they have?

The army is being used for political gains: Mamata Banerjee

While the stage for Trinamool Congress’s protest programme against demonising the Bengali language by the BJP, at the Maidan near Esplanade was being dismantled by the Army today, Chairperson Mamata Banerjee rushed to the site and strongly admonished the BJP for using the Army to try to prevent its protests. Speaking to the media, she said that she had the highest respect for the Army, but using it for political purposes was grossly unjustified. She also said that her party’s protests against the atrocities brought on by several states on migrant workers for speaking in Bengali would continue.

Highlights of her speech:

You all can see that we started the Bhasha Andolan regarding the torture on the Bengali and our language, but they have dismantled the stage. The army has opened the pandal. I have no anger against the army, we are proud of them. But they should know that we do not block any roads. We had our event here only on Saturdays and Sundays. We also have the permission for the same. They could have told the police, then the police would have spoken to the party and we could’ve opened the stage. We do all protests here, under the statue of Mahatma Gandhi, the greatest leader

Around 200 army men started running on seeing me. I said why are you running, you are my friends? It is not your fault. You did it because of the BJP and the Union Defence Minister. I am blaming the BJP and the Defence Minister. If they misuse the army to dismantle the stage and the decoration, what else can be said

Yesterday there was a programme and today they vacated the spot. They could have contacted the West Bengal Police and the Kolkata CP because this was about law & order and that is a State subject. If there was any objection, we would have opened it in a minute. We do not want to disturb anyone. I am sorry to say that it is not the army, it is the BJP. Behind this, there is the BJP and their ploy. They have done this forcefully. They have misused the army for political purposes. We are not blaming the army, they work for the country

They should not disrespect the army and the Kolkata Police. They should have consulted our Kolkata Police. They could have spoken to our minister Aroop Biswas like they did during the Durand Cup. I attend all their programmes. Why did your army team run when I was coming? I asked them this. They are my friends. Do not run. I will not do any more programme here

We will organise our programme in Rani Rashmoni Road. The BJP does [their programme] here without permission. Will the same rules be applied for them too? I feel this is undemocratic. I had to rush here leaving all my work. Bengalis and Bengali language is being persecuted. We have the democratic right to speak in any language. You could have told the police, but instead you took the law in your hand and dismantled the stage forcefully

Our sestoons and flags have been removed. It is undemocratic and unethical. The BJP wants to misuse the army for their own purposes. This is a sad message. They do not care about the internal or the border security. They only care about fighting AITC in Bengal. The more they do this, the worse the result will be for them

For 30 August and 31 August, we even gave Rs 20,000 as security money for the permission. There was no programme for any other party here and we used to do only on weekends. But we do not take security money from them. I condemn the BJP for what they did today. They are the shame of the country. The Double-Engine government is a shame. They will not get people’s support. They have turned all agencies into lollipops. Where will be the impartiality if even the army is misused?

When elections come, they send agencies to defame us. Tell me one agency which is unbiased. They are autocratic. When the BJP is no longer in power, where will they go? People will answer them. We will continue this fight against linguistic oppression. It will be stronger. I spoke to Abhishek also. I took permission from the police. We do not do anything without permission, not even 21 July event. We will do it [Bhasha Andolan] in Rani Rashmoni Road with permission. The protest stage will be shifted there

Then this means that at the Brigade Parade Ground and Mahatma Gandhi statue we cannot do any event because the army will not give permission? Will we not do anything at Red Road too because of no permission? What is this? Who looks after the road maintenance? Who looks after the law & order? All is done by the KMC and the Kolkata Police. We have the best of relation with our them [army]. You could have informed me also. How can you stop us from coming here at the Gandhi statue? You can keep Gandhi Ji’s photo at the foot but we do not do it. You put Gandhi Ji’s picture down, we saw in the Independence Day. But for us, he is in our hearts

Our dharna will continue. They do not have the strength to stop it. In Odisha, our workers were assaulted with rods yesterday. They have said in Assam that the Bengalis are D = Doubtful. They are torturing Bengalis everywhere. I do not want to torture the non-Bengalis and neither do I appreciate it. This is our culture. Speak more in Bengali. We want to see to what extent you [BJP] want to go

Tomorrow, from 2 PM onwards, protest rallies will happen in all blocks, wards, and districts because of what the BJP did today. From tomorrow the dharna stage at Rani Rashmoni Road will be prepared. It might take a little time because of the rain. This [Bhasha Andolan protest] will now happen every day. Make the stage where it is under the KMC

Did they ask the Kolkata Police or me even once? Did they speak to the party? The stage cannot be removed in a day. I do not need Modi Babu’s permission for programme, I take people’s permission. I will not blame the army, because they work for the nation. Does PM Modi take permission from us when he comes here? We just allow it because that is courtesy

They cannot stop our voices. They cannot take unilateral decisions. If the atrocities and torture are continuing against the Bengalis, we will do it every day. This is an international language. How can you say there is no such language or that Bengalis are doubtful voters?

I respect the uniform, but they are being misused. I appeal to the army, please be neutral because everybody loves you. We express our solidarity. So do not play at the hands of the BJP and involve in a dirty political game

They could have contacted me. I am available. They spoke to me so much during the Durand Cup. The Youth & Sports Ministers are in daily contact. Army’s job is not to dismantle the stage, it is the job of the police. They cannot intervene in political matters without the local police. The BJP gave them direction. The army is not guilty, but the BJP is

I am not the BJP’s mouthpiece. Army’s uniform is priceless. You humiliated the police on Police Day. Who are you to remove our flags and banners? If they disrespect our mother tongue, no one will be worse than me. I will fight them democratically and politically. The journalists are also being tortured and harassed everywhere by them