‘Ready To Give My Life’: Mamata On Harassment Of Bengali Speakers
“I will give my life if needed but will not allow anyone to snatch my mother tongue”: Trinamul Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee
KOLKATA: Launching her “Bhasa Andolon” (language movement) in protest against the harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers outside West Bengal on the suspicion of them being Bangladeshi infiltrators, chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday declared that she was “ready to give her life to protect her mother tongue”.
She also renewed her vow not to allow the National Register of Citizens (NRC) and detention camps in West Bengal in her lifetime. “I will give my life if needed but will not allow anyone to snatch my mother tongue,” the Trinamul Congress supremo told a crowd after kickstarting her Bhasa Andolon by leading a protest rally at Bolpur in Birbhum.
Warning the BJP and the Election Commission against a special intensive revision (SIR) in West Bengal, she added: “I dare you to drop genuine names from the voters’ list. You will get to see Chhou dance and Dhamsa Madol. There are drums and gong also. Have you ever heard of them? I will just beat a large kettle-drum. As long as I am alive, I will not allow the NRC and detention camps to happen here.”
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Ms Banerjee sarcastically observed: “Chai Pe Charcha, Mann Ki Baat… When you visit Abu Dhabi, you hug the sheikhs. Do you judge then if he is Hindu or Muslim? When you visit Saudi Arabia and give a hug, do you check if he is Hindu or Muslim? A few days ago, you visited the Maldives and gave them Rs 5,000 crores in funds over a hug instead of providing us the funds for the 100-day job scheme, do you see any Hindu-Muslim in it?”
Reaching out to the affected migrant workers, the CM urged them to return home for their survival. She assured them that she would ferry them by train like what had happened during the Covid-19 pandemic and give them jobs and government facilities.
“Those who are facing torture outside Bengal still, I request them to come back. The West Bengal government will take their responsibility. If you want to return, the police helpline numbers have been provided. Tell me when you want to return,” Ms Banerjee said.
She added: “We will bring you back on trains. We did it during Covid. We will share our bread, if not biryani, with you, introduce a scheme for you, engage you in jobs, provide you with Swasthya Saathi cards and free rations. We will give you a fresh lease of life and admit your children in schools. We have already made a scheme at a meeting today.”
Ms Banerjee pointed out: “There is no need for you to stay in Mumbai. Why would you stay there with those who do not love you and instead torture you? You can do your jewellery crafting job which has huge opportunities here. What's the point in living in Gujarat, UP or Rajasthan when they don’t want you there? Also, Haryana and Assam have worthless leaders.”
Earlier, the CM chaired an administrative review meeting where she told the booth-level officers who form a key part in the SIR: “I appeal to you to ensure that no name is dropped from the voters’ list. Before and after the election, the state government retains administrative powers. You work for the state government. Don’t harass people unnecessarily.