Sun Jul 13 16:39:13 UTC 2025: **Summary:**
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lead a protest rally in Kolkata on July 16, 2025, to denounce the alleged mistreatment of Bengali-speaking migrants in BJP-ruled states, specifically mentioning incidents in Odisha, Delhi, and Maharashtra. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is organizing simultaneous demonstrations across West Bengal. This move marks a departure from their usual pre-Martyrs’ Day Rally schedule. The TMC views the protest as a defense of Bengali culture, identity, and honor, triggered by increasing reports of Bengali speakers being labeled as “outsiders” or “Bangladeshis.” The party cited instances like that of Arati Ghosh, allegedly excluded from the NRC in Assam and forced to return to West Bengal. TMC leaders vehemently deny any correlation between speaking Bengali and being a Bangladeshi citizen.
**News Article:**
**Mamata Banerjee to Lead Mass Protest Against Alleged Anti-Bengali Bias**
**Kolkata, July 14, 2025** – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will spearhead a large-scale protest rally in Kolkata on July 16, 2025, in response to what the Trinamool Congress (TMC) claims is the continued targeting and mistreatment of migrants from West Bengal in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Simultaneous demonstrations are planned throughout West Bengal on the same day.
The TMC cited specific incidents of alleged discrimination against Bengali-speaking individuals in Odisha, Delhi, and Maharashtra as the impetus for the mobilization. This action is considered significant as it deviates from the party’s typical practice of avoiding major events in the lead-up to the annual Martyrs’ Day Rally on July 21.
“If the Bengali language is insulted, if a Bengali is called Bangladeshi, it will not be tolerated at all. We will take to the streets under the leadership of Mamata Banerjee,” declared senior TMC leader Chandrima Bhattacharya on Sunday.
The ruling party emphasized that the protest is not solely a political maneuver, but a wider effort to safeguard the culture, identity, and honor of West Bengal. TMC Members of Parliament, Sagarika Ghosh and Saket Gokhale, recently visited Jai Hind Colony in Delhi, addressing concerns raised by Bengali migrants residing there.
Chief Minister Banerjee has consistently condemned attempts to label Bengali speakers as “outsiders” or “Bangladeshis.” She has strongly asserted that speaking Bengali does not equate to being a Bangladeshi citizen, emphasizing that Bengali is a constitutionally recognized language and that every citizen has the right to speak their native tongue.
Furthermore, Rajya Sabha MP Samirul Islam highlighted the case of Arati Ghosh, a 52-year-old woman from Cooch Behar district, who was allegedly labeled a foreigner and excluded from the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Assam, forcing her to return to West Bengal.
“I want to raise some questions for the anti-Bengali BJP leadership, who often dare to claim their love and respect for Bengal — a claim that is nothing but a vile falsehood,” said Mr. Islam, questioning the sincerity of BJP’s alleged support for the state.
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