The West Bengal Assembly is likely to convene a special session in August to address the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking people in states governed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This move follows recent statements and actions by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has accused the BJP of targeting Bengalis and promoting linguistic terrorism.
Sources within the state's Parliamentary affairs department suggest the session will likely occur between August 8 and August 21. During this session, the Mamata government is expected to introduce a special resolution addressing the issue. Additionally, there are discussions about presenting four other new bills during the session. The proposal for convening the special session will be submitted to Speaker Biman Bandopadhyay after finalization by the state Parliamentary affairs department.
Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) has planned widespread protest demonstrations every weekend, and the party leadership believes its stance on the alleged harassment of Bengali speakers in BJP-ruled states should be formally documented in the House. Banerjee has called for a new language movement to combat linguistic terrorism and safeguard Bengali identity. She announced that her party would launch weekend protest programs across the state starting July 27 in response to the alleged harassment. These actions and statements indicate a shift in the TMC's political narrative, focusing on "Bengalis in Danger" rather than "Bengal in Danger". This shift comes ahead of the crucial Assembly election in 2026.
The Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, criticized Banerjee's actions, claiming she is trying to portray herself as the protector of Bengali language and culture due to the growing anti-incumbency sentiments against her party. Adhikari, before departing for New Delhi, alleged that Banerjee is aware of her party's weakening position and is using this issue to regain political ground.
The special session and planned protests are set against a backdrop of accusations and counter-accusations between the TMC and BJP. The discussions will likely focus on reported attacks against migrant workers from Bengal and allegations that they are being labeled as Bangladeshis.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has accused the West Bengal government of making life difficult for Bengalis by encouraging illegal infiltration from Bangladesh. Modi stated that while Bengalis are respected in BJP-ruled states, they suffer in West Bengal due to the state government's patronage of illegal infiltrators. He further claimed that these infiltrators are being provided with fake Indian identity documents and pose a threat to national security and Bengali culture.
