Sat Jul 12 19:57:20 UTC 2025: Here’s a summary of the text followed by a rewritten news article:
**Summary:**
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has strongly criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma’s remarks about using Bengali as the mother tongue in Census documents to identify “foreigners” in Assam. The TMC views this as anti-Bengali sentiment and accuses Sarma of divisive politics and racial profiling, especially given allegations of harassment against Bengali migrant workers in BJP-ruled states. The controversy arose after an Assam tribunal declared a West Bengal resident, Uttam Kumar Brajabasi, an illegal migrant, leading to conflicting statements from the Assam and West Bengal Chief Ministers. The TMC demands an apology from Sarma.
**News Article:**
**TMC Accuses Assam CM of Anti-Bengali Bias Over “Foreigner” Remarks**
**Kolkata, July 13, 2025** – A political firestorm has erupted between the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma over his recent statements concerning the use of Bengali as a mother tongue in Census documents. The TMC has accused Sarma of fostering anti-Bengali sentiment and engaging in divisive politics.
Sarma reportedly stated that identifying Bengali as a mother tongue in the Census could help quantify the number of “foreigners” in Assam. This remark has drawn sharp criticism from the TMC, who view it as an attack on the Bengali community.
“Where does this hatred stem from? Why this contempt for Bengalis and Bangla?” the TMC questioned in a social media post, referencing the importance of Bengali in India’s national identity, highlighting that both the National Anthem and National Song are in Bengali.
The controversy was further fueled by the case of Uttam Kumar Brajabasi, a resident of Cooch Behar in West Bengal, who was declared an “illegal migrant” by a Foreigners’ Tribunal in Assam. Disagreement ensued between the Chief Ministers of Assam and West Bengal regarding Brajabasi’s residency status.
TMC leader Sushmita Dev has accused Sarma of “divisive politics and racial profiling,” emphasizing that Bengali is the 7th most spoken language globally. She stated, “Bengali-speaking Indians are subjected to racial profiling, targeted harassment, and systematic persecution. By branding Bengalis as ‘illegal Bangladeshis’, the Assam CM has disgraced the very office he holds. He must apologise immediately.”
The incident occurs against a backdrop of alleged targeting of migrant workers from West Bengal in BJP-ruled states, adding further tension to the situation. The TMC is demanding an immediate apology from Chief Minister Sarma.
First Piper 