West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of targeting Bengali-speaking citizens in BJP-ruled states by labelling them as illegal Bangladeshi immigrants—despite holding valid Indian identity documents.
“You should be ashamed of branding legitimate Indian citizens as Bangladeshis simply because of the language they speak,” Banerjee said during a heated address in the state Assembly. Emphasising linguistic pride, she added, “We should feel proud to speak in Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Hindi… I can speak all of them.”
The Chief Minister condemned what she described as a contradiction in BJP policies—denying Bengali-speaking citizens employment in BJP-governed states while simultaneously questioning their nationality. “These people have voter ID, PAN, and Aadhaar cards, yet they are being robbed of their right to earn a livelihood,” she said.
Her remarks drew strong protests from BJP legislators, who shouted slogans and interrupted her speech. Despite the uproar, Banerjee continued, accusing the central government of withholding financial assistance due to West Bengal and treating the state unfairly.
She highlighted her government’s achievements, stating that under the Pathashree scheme, 69,000 kilometers of roads had been constructed and ₹11,000 crore had been invested in the Awas Yojana. “Despite financial constraints, Bengal has led in rural housing and road development for five consecutive years,” Banerjee claimed, noting that the state had also generated 1.5 crore mandays of employment, with citizens receiving an average of 50 workdays.
Banerjee also reiterated her government’s commitment to uplifting Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, backward castes, and Muslims, who collectively make up a significant portion of the state’s population. She emphasized that all welfare policies were being implemented in line with Supreme Court and High Court rulings.
Meanwhile, tensions in the Assembly escalated when Speaker Biman Banerjee refused to admit an adjournment motion by BJP legislators concerning the alleged SSC recruitment scam, stating the matter was sub judice. BJP MLA Manoj Oraon was suspended for the day for disorderly conduct, prompting a walkout by all 40 BJP MLAs, who carried potted tulsi plants in protest.
Speaking to reporters outside, Oraon accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of silencing opposition voices to cover up widespread corruption in teacher recruitment. He alleged that unqualified individuals had secured teaching jobs through bribes paid to TMC leaders.
Inside the House, Mamata Banerjee fired back at the BJP, dismissing its accusations and questioning its moral authority. “I don’t take the ₹1.5 lakh pension I’m entitled to as a former MP. Do they think they’ll teach me about ethics and honesty?” she said.
Responding to chants calling her government corrupt, Banerjee declared that the BJP would be “reduced to zero” in the next Assembly elections. “People have seen through your politics,” she asserted.
Taking a dig at a Union minister over a recent controversy involving a Sikh police officer and footwear, Banerjee said, “There’s a half-minister who seems obsessed with chappals. Maybe he should consider opening a slipper shop.”
Her comments came hours after four Bengali-speaking men, wrongly deported to Bangladesh under suspicions of being undocumented migrants, were returned to India after West Bengal police presented their citizenship documents. The deportation occurred amid the Centre’s ongoing “Operation Sindoor,” under which over 2,000 individuals have been forcibly repatriated in recent weeks.
Banerjee condemned the deportations, calling them unjust and politically motivated, and reiterated her commitment to defending the rights and dignity of all legitimate Indian citizens.
