By Tirthankar Mitra
KOLKATA: Processions are commonplace in West Bengal with its capital Kolkata being once dubbed “a city of processions” by a prime minister. But the “bhasa michil’ (language procession) taken out on Monday by Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee leading a sizeable number of activists in the red earth town of Bolpur was one with a difference.
It was to all intents and purposes a election rally though it did not say so. With the 2026 Assembly election inching closer, there was no need of any announcement as the procession was in protest of branding migrant Bengali speaking workers from West Bengal as Bangladeshis in BJP ruled states putting the charge of bias against Bengali language in focus
Language has always been an emotive issue in Bengal and turning it into an election issue has been a canny political move on part of the TMC supremo. Indeed it turned out to be a life line at a time when the TMC state government has been cornered by incidents of rape and murder and barrage of criticism gaining stridency with the cash for teaching jobs scam.
Mamata Banerjee’s assertion that she would lead a “dwitiya bhasa andolan” (second language movement) to save the state from “bhasa santrash” (language terrorism) is close to the heart of Bengali voters. In fact, many a family who may not have supported TMC in 2019 elections are with the CM on the issue of fighting for the cause of the Bengali speaking migrant labour who are being attacked in other states. .
With her proven ability to think on her legs, Banerjee is touching an emotive chord in the hearts of many a senior citizens who are proud of their roots in what is now Bangladesh. But such pride does not make them forget for a moment that they are citizens of India and will be a guarantee of their support to TMC in 2026 elections.
Banerjee’s allegations cannot be dismissed. Migrant workers from the state have been targeted, harassed and subjected to forcible deportation as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh.
With Odisha, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi being the states where such incidents are occurring have lent support to Banerjee’s charge of language terrorism. With all these states being under BJP governance underscores the charge of the TMC supremo.
The forcible deportation issue has travelled beyond India’s borders as New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW), an internationally acclaimed human rights body has taken note of it. Mamata Banerjee has also voiced HRW’s take on the incident bring loath to let go of an opportunity to strike her political opponent where it hurts.
Language is being used as a tool of persecution against sons of the soil of West Bengal. Against this backdrop, the mild protests of the saffron camp are ringing hollow.
The choice of the venue of the procession was perfect. Rabindranath Tagore, the state’s biggest icon chose to build Santiniketan in the red earth land of Birbhum.
The TMC chief did not need a brain wave to pick on Bolpur which is next door to Santiniketan. It is the perfect place to start her campaign against BJP, the principal Opposition party in the state Assembly for the past five years.
A picture of Tagore in hand, Banerjee walked 2.5 kilometres at the head of the ‘bhasa michil’ putting her words into a deed. The processionists following their leader had festoons round their heads which “aamra Bangali, Bangladeshi noi” (we are Bengalis, not Bangladeshis)
Firing all cylinders, Trinamool chief claimed that the BJP-led Union government was hand in glove with the Election Commission of India. If the allegation is likely to be dismissed by many, it will be given s sympathetic hearing by many more in this state not in hurry to furnish documents other than Aadhaar and voter cards to cement their proof as citizens.
Such reluctance is to TMC’s advantage. It would go a long way in ensuring their support for the continuance of Trinamool governance in the state during 2026 elections.
An accusing finger cannot be pointed at Banerjee for trying make political capital of Tagore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi seldom misses an opportunity to mention Bengal’s icons and deities in his speeches these days
The latest being invocation of Khudiram, a teenager hung by British dispensation for his participation in an act of alleged terrorism. While he is looked up to as a martyr in every corner of the state, the PM also voiced Jai Ma Durga’ and Jai Ma Kali, the two goddesses widely worshipped in Bengal.
Shelving Ram, the deity on whom the bedrock of BJP rested their successive election campaigns is to be noted. The TMC leadership did not give it a miss and criticised what it felt to be a duplicity with an eye on the poll.
The TMC supremo has got the BJP cornered. By championing the issue of harassment of migrant workers from Bengal, she has stoked the fears of many being disenfranchised in West Bengal.
The saffron camp is at a loss as to how to counter Trinamool chief’s line of attack. To call a spade by no other name, the BJP is clueless till date about the mode to take on Trinamool on the language issue.
The new state BJP chief Samik Bhattacharya knows too well it would be insensitive to view the harassment of Bengali migrants in a political lens only. It is high time he lands up with a humane idea to counter the TMC’s charge of language terrorism.
The timing and manner to identify and drive out and deport illegal migrants raises more questions than answers. The constitutional right of every citizen to settle in any part of India appears to be under duress too. (IPA Service)
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