West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing political attack on the BJP-led Centre and Assam government at the Trinamool Congress’s (TMC) annual Martyrs’ Day rally in Kolkata, asserting that Bengali identity, language, and democracy were under siege. 

Banerjee alleged that the US President Donald Trump “controls” the BJP-led central government, taking a dig at the Centre’s silence over the deportation of Indian immigrants from the US in shackles.

“American President controls BJP-led central government,” said Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee.

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Speaking before a sea of party supporters, Banerjee declared, “What was the BJP doing when the US sent Indians back in chains? This is what happens when your government abroad is controlled from Washington.” She also questioned the role of Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, accusing him of interfering in West Bengal’s affairs and launching NRC notices in the state.

“The Assam CM, who cannot handle his own state, is busy poking his nose in Bengal’s business. Who gave Assam the right to send NRC notices to our people?” Banerjee demanded.

Mamata vows to fight BJP till Delhi

The Chief Minister promised to resist what she called “BJP’s planned attack on Bengalis and their language,” warning that her party’s resistance would not stop at the state level. “If the terror against Bengalis doesn’t end, our resistance movement will reach Delhi,” she thundered.

Alleging that the BJP is planning an NRC-like “SIR exercise” in Bengal, Banerjee vowed, “We will never allow this to happen here.” She further accused the BJP of falsely promising development in the state and challenged them to show what they had done for the country in the past 11 years.

Eyes on 2026 elections

Setting the stage for the upcoming 2026 West Bengal assembly elections, Banerjee told supporters, “We have to win more seats in 2026. Then we must aim to defeat the BJP at the Centre.” Her nephew and TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee echoed the sentiment, claiming that the BJP would be “wiped out” electorally and sent to “detention camps” after 2026.

“The BJP wants to send Bengalis to detention camps. We’ll do the same to them electorally once we win,” Abhishek said, accusing the saffron party of being “Bangla-Birodhi” (anti-Bengal).

Language, identity and political strategy

In defence of Bengali identity, Abhishek said TMC MPs would speak in Bengali in Parliament if needed. “Let them try to silence us,” he dared the BJP, accusing it of targeting Bengalis for simply speaking their mother tongue.

Mocking the BJP’s attempts to align with Bengali culture, he quipped, “First it was ‘Jai Shri Ram’, now it’s ‘Jai Ma Durga’. In 10 months, they’ll say ‘Joy Bangla’.”

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Martyrs’ Day, observed every year on July 21, commemorates the death of 13 Youth Congress workers in 1993 during a protest led by Mamata Banerjee. What began as a solemn remembrance has grown into the TMC’s most symbolic political gathering, rallying lakhs in a display of strength and regional pride. This year’s rally held just months before the crucial 2026 elections, marked a strategic moment for TMC to sharpen its narrative.