Thousands of people participated in the protest march, which began in College Square and finished at Dorina Crossing in Dharmatala. Almost 1,500 police officers were on hand to provide heavy security.
Similar demonstrations were also staged by the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in the state’s district headquarters towns.
CM Mamata Banerjee Slams BJP Over ‘Linguistic Profiling’ Allegations
In a fiery protest rally, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing the party of branding all Bengali-speaking individuals as “Bangladeshi Rohingyas.”
“Rohingyas live in Myanmar. Here, all citizens of West Bengal have proper ID cards and identification,” Banerjee asserted.
She further questioned the discrimination against Bengali-speaking people across India, saying,
“The laborers who have gone outside Bengal have not gone on their own. They have been employed because they have skills… Anyone who speaks Bengali is being arrested and put behind bars. Why? Is West Bengal not a part of India?”
TMC Highlights ‘Linguistic Profiling’ Ahead of Elections
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is turning these protests into a powerful political message as the party accuses the BJP of engaging in linguistic profiling and illegal detentions.
This strategy is gaining momentum especially after recent incidents involving the detention of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in Odisha and eviction drives in Delhi.
With the West Bengal Assembly elections on the horizon, the TMC has intensified its campaign by leveraging the “outsider vs insider” sentiment, aiming to counter the BJP’s growing influence in the state.
Banerjee Warns: ‘Names Not on Voter List Could Face Jail’
Responding to the BJP’s allegation that the TMC is shielding Bangladeshi infiltrators, Banerjee hit back sharply:
“The border is under the Ministry of Home Affairs. Why aren’t they stopping the infiltrators?”
She expressed concern over the proposed scrutiny of the 2002 voter list, warning people to be vigilant.
“So many people have died, so many babies have been born. When the voter list revision begins, skip work if need be, but ensure your name is on the list — or you may land in jail,” she cautioned.
Opposition Hits Back: ‘Asmita Exercise to Distract from Corruption’
Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari accused the TMC of diverting attention from pressing issues like the large number of job losses among Bengali-speaking teachers, blaming it on widespread corruption in recruitment.
He further alleged that the TMC’s focus on “Bengali asmita” (identity) is a cover-up to shield illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators and Bengali-speaking Rohingyas.
Adhikari also questioned the state’s appointment process in top administrative and police positions, alleging that several senior officers were overlooked in favor of junior officials from other states, raising concerns over fairness and transparency.