'Who Will Stop Us From Speaking Bengali?’: Mamata Declares 'Language War' on BJP

Ahead of 2026 polls, Mamata used Shaheed Diwas celebrations to unveil a new slogan: 'Jabda hobe, stabdha hobe'.

At the Shaheed Diwas celebrations, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee gave a call to the general masses to join the Trinamool Congress' cause against 'anti-Bengali' BJP.

(Photo: Arka Bhaduri/Altered by Aroop Mishra/The Quint)

Taiboor Mandal from Hooghly district stood out in the thronging crowd of thousands at Kolkata's Dharmatala. Early in the morning of 21 July, Mandal had reached the protest site in his specially tailoured outfit and hat featuring the joda-phool (twin flowers) of the Trinamool Congress (TMC).

An ardent supporter of Didi, Mandal was already planning what he would wear to next year's parade.

"I will start saving again for next year's celebration from tomorrow. I will save until next May, order my dress in June, and come to the July gathering in that new dress next year as well."

With West Bengal heading to polls next year, Mondal's words convey more than mere festive enthusiasm. It is an assertion of belief in his leader—Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Just metres away from Mondal, from a podium looking onto the supporters gathered at the erstwhile Esplanade, Banerjee gave a call to the general masses to join the TMC's cause, making appeals to specific sections—from sportspersons and athletes to intellectuals—to sit in regular protest against the saffron threat to Bengal's culture, practice, and the Bengali language.

"Why was there no rain this time? Because a new game has started. Not tears, not sorrow, we are angry now, with fiery eyes," Banerjee said, as clear skies broke out to greet the milling crowd in place of the promised downpour.

Mamata Banerjee addresses massive crowds at Dharmatala, Kolkata.

(Arka Bhaduri/The Quint)

The politically charged martyr's rally, held in commemoration of the killing of 13 political workers in 1993, became all the more politicised with Banerjee using the platform to unveil a new party slogan ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections. "Jabda hobe, stabdha hobe" (they will be defeated, will be silenced), she said, adding that Bengal will not put up with any domination of the Bengali language and culture.

Star Power of 'Joda-Phool'

On the morning of Shaheed Diwas, the streets of Kolkata were ablaze with TMC banners and posters and life-sized cut-outs of Banerjee and her nephew and the party's All India General Secretary, Abhishek Banerjee. The meeting venue of Dharmatala, however, featured cut-outs of Mamata alone, perhaps to emphasise the undoubted power of the TMC supremo. A festive mood was manifest across the venue, with temporary snacking stalls and small shops set up near the meeting venue.

Scores of Trinamool supporters from all over West Bengal came to attend the meeting. Some even arrived the night before, and secured seats close to the dias.

Temporary kitchens were set up across locations like Moulali where volunteers cooked meals for the incoming crowd. About 5,000 additional police personnel were deployed to maintain law and order in the city.

Three stages had been constructed in front of Dharmatala Victoria House. Mamata was joined by Abhishek, and most of the TMC leadership, including Mayor Firhad Hakim, Minister of Commerce and Industries Shahi Panja, and actresses-turned-politicians Shatabdi Roy and Rachana Bandyopadhyay, on one stage. The other two stages was reserved for the families of the martyrs, and elected party representatives.

Shaheed Diwas 2025 celebrations in Kolkata.

(Arka Bhaduri/The Quint)

But under the veneer of gaiety lurked unmissable political undertones. A group of supporters among the crowd was seen with a big yellow banner with the words, "We want a Bengali Prime Minister" on it. The banner perhaps best summed up the mood of the TMC.

TMC Lines up Poll Agendas: Anti-Bengali Sentiment at Fore

The symbolism of the event was there for all to see. At 1 pm, Mamata entered the venue.

In a loaded gesture intended to challenge the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)'s claims to nationalism, the Chief Minister was accompanied by the late army personnel Jhantu Ali Sheikh's father and both parents of Pahalgam-victim Bitan Adhikari, whom she helped climb the ramp. She felicitated them and presented each with Rs 1 lakh as a mark of respect for their deceased sons.

The issue of attacks on Bengalis in different parts of India and within West Bengal itself, nevertheless, assumed centrestage.

In the past few months, several reports of migrant workers from West Bengal being harassed in other states under the suspicion of being illegal immigrants from Bangladesh have emerged. A week ago, Assam's foreigners tribunal served a notice to Uttam Brajabasi, a Koch Rajbanshi resident of West Bengal's Cooch Behar, despite valid documents. He too was present on the stage in Dharmatala.

Abhishek addressed these issues in his speech, emphasising the need and the right to reclaim the Bengali identity.

"We were the ones to first call out the BJP as anti-Bengali... That's their true character. They undermine the Bengali culture, contrive to kill the poor, and stop funds... We speak Bengali. We speak proudly. Earlier, they (the BJP and its supporters) would only shout 'Jay Shri Ram'. Do you remember? Now they are forced to shout 'Joy Maa Kali' and 'Joy Maa Durga' instead. We will make them shout 'Joy Bangla' after 2026. Note that down."

Abhishekh Banerjee, TMC All India General Secretary

He further added that if needed, the TMC members will speak in Bengali in the Parliament. Abhishek threatened to uproot the 'lotus' from Bengal as loud cheers and claps were heard from the crowd in response to these convictions.

Mamata's speech was also focused on the threat to the Bengali identity and Bengal's communal harmony. "Who are they (BJP) to stop us from speaking Bengali? Who are they to dictate whether we will eat fish or meat or eggs?"

Names of martyrs adorned with flowers in front of the main stage in Dharmatala.

(Arka Bhaduri/The Quint)

The Chief Minister then read out from the Centre's notice for mass deportation of illegal Bangladeshi nationals.

Expressing strong disapproval against a BJP leader's comment about the alleged presence of 17 lakh Rohingya Muslims in West Bengal, she pointed out that the BJP is trying to disturb Bengal's communal harmony while assuming zero accountability for what is happening against women, Dalits, and migrant workers in Odisha, Rajasthan, or Uttar Pradesh.

She also claimed the BJP is targeting Bengal because they are afraid of the state's development despite the Centre's negligence. She highlighted the 94 mass welfare programmes led by the state government, and the number of beneficiaries under various schemes. She also didn't forget to mock the Left in Bengal, saying that they are covertly cooperating with the BJP, and that the Left supporters are paid to rally against the TMC on social networking sites.

Addressing the threat to linguistic identity, she asked:

"Why is this terror against the Bengali language? Bengal has fought in the freedom movement. This is where the Renaissance happened. This land will not belong to the miscreants. If the people of Bengal are arrested outside Bengal for speaking in Bengali, the fight against that will be fought in Delhi. I do not let go. Do you remember Singur and Nandigram?"

There was emphasis on reminding the audience of Bengal's rich history, especially during India's freedom movement.

Significantly, Banerjee called for another movement for the Bengali language. "Organise meetings and rallies protesting this attack on our language, every Saturday and Sunday, 27 July onwards." She also clearly indicated that this will be the leading issue for the 2026 election, adding:

"The language movement will start from 27 July... speak in Bengali more and more. We won't tolerate an attack on our language. This will continue until the result of the next election is announced."

BJP Holds its Own Rally with Few Takers

Besides attacking the BJP for conspiring against the Bengali identity, Banerjee emphasised that the BJP has failed to support Hindus either. Party leaders cited the failure of the Central government to prevent attacks like the one in Pahalgam, or its inability to prevent the Donald Trump administration in the US from sending back Gujarati Hindu migrants.

Meanwhile, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh mocked the TMC for hijacking the Martyrs' Day celebrations from the Congress, as it were workers of the Youth Congress, and not the TMC, who were martyred on 21 July 1993.

As a response, the BJP organised the 'Uttar Kanya Abhijan' rally in Siliguri on the same day to highlight violence against women in the state. The rally was led by Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, who attacked the TMC government and questioned the authenticity of the Dharmatala crowd in a public meeting following the rally.

On 23 June, the Congress is set to observe Martyrs' Day in Nadia's Palashi, where they will demand justice for Tamanna Khatun, a young girl recently killed in a bomb attack during the TMC's celebrations, and for the RG Kar Hospital victim.

Dual Support of TMC Despite Anti-Incumbency

Back at Dharmatala, the mood was jubilant. Abu Taher Molla of Murshidabad's Jiagunj, a carpenter by profession who had joined the gathering, said that Didi was their (Bengali Muslims') only hope.

"The BJP won't allow Bengali Muslims to live in this country anymore. Many people from Murshidabad go to other states in search of work. They are being caught and sent across the border as 'Bangladeshis'. There's no one except Didi to save us," Molla told The Quint.

As usual, women constituted a large proportion of the gathering this year. Sabitri Mondal, Krishna Koley, and Arati Hansda had travelled from Krishnanagar in Nadia district. All of them receive monthly allowance under the 'Lokkhir Bhandar' scheme.

The BJP is relatively powerful in the Nadia district, especially among Dalits with ancestral origins in Bangladesh who were forced to move to India. When asked if the BJP is likely to do well in Nadia in the 2026 Assembly elections, the three women immediately dismissed the possibility. "Didi has done a lot for us. We all receive money... The BJP won't manage to gain much support there," Arati retorted.

Allegations of corruption against the TMC government are widespread. But the people at the 21 July gathering did not seem to care much.

"Several TMC leaders are corrupt, and so, the party is losing its goodwill. But, in Bengal, there is no alternative to Didi," said Shyamal Adhikari from East Midnapore.

(Arka Bhaduri is an independent journalist covering politics in West Bengal.)