West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee rekindled her Bengali identity narrative on Monday by leading a large-scale protest march through central Kolkata, condemning the alleged mistreatment of Bengali-speaking individuals in BJP-ruled states. Despite heavy rainfall, Banerjee marched alongside top leaders of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), including Abhishek Banerjee, in a strong show of party unity.
The 3-kilometre march, guarded by nearly 1,500 police personnel, echoed with chants of “BJP, chi chi” (Shame on you, BJP), as party leaders and supporters took to the streets to protest against what they claim is growing hostility towards Bengalis outside the state.
Triggered by Migrant Worker Detentions in Odisha
The protest was catalysed by the recent detention of 444 suspected Bangladeshi nationals in Jharsuguda, Odisha. The Trinamool Congress has alleged that around 200 of those detained were migrant workers from West Bengal and not illegal immigrants. The issue has escalated tensions between the TMC and BJP, adding fuel to an already charged political environment.
This week, TMC MP Mahua Moitra had slammed the Chhattisgarh government after Bengali migrants from the state were detained in the neighbouring state.
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The march comes at a critical political juncture — just ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to West Bengal and with Assembly elections approaching next year. It also follows reports of linguistic profiling and eviction drives in Delhi, further aggravating concerns over the treatment of Bengali-speaking citizens in BJP-governed states.
With Mamata Banerjee once again turning to street-style politics, the protest signals a renewed effort by the TMC to consolidate its support base and assert regional identity in the face of national political friction.
