Mamata Banerjee Launches Bhasha Andolon for Bengali Migrants

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to initiate her Bhasha Andolon, a movement advocating for the rights of Bengali-speaking migrant workers, with a protest march in Birbhum on Monday. This campaign responds to the detention of Bengali-speaking workers outside the state, who are suspected of being illegal Bangladeshi infiltrators. Banerjee revealed her plans during her party’s Shaheed Diwas rally on July 21, 2023, and Birbhum was chosen for its historical connection to Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

Banerjee will arrive in Birbhum on the evening of October 15, 2023. On the following day, she will convene an administrative meeting and launch several government initiatives in Bolpur. The afternoon will see her lead the Bhasha Andolon rally, which will cover approximately 3 kilometers through key locations associated with Tagore, including Santiniketan and Visva-Bharati.

The march will commence at the Tourist Lodge and conclude at the Jamboni bus stand, where Banerjee plans to pay tribute at Tagore’s statue before addressing the assembled crowd. This event is expected to draw significant attention from party supporters and the media alike.

In the backdrop of this high-profile launch, the focus will also be on Anubrata Mondal, the TMC district president who has recently faced scrutiny after being recorded threatening a police officer. His attendance at the rally remains uncertain, adding an element of intrigue to Banerjee’s event.

On Tuesday, October 17, 2023, Banerjee will attend a government event at Illambazar before returning to Kolkata. The Bhasha Andolon aims to not only address the grievances faced by Bengali migrants but also to reinforce the cultural identity of the Bengali-speaking community within the broader socio-political landscape of West Bengal.