No reason why Bengali-speaking people should be put in jail: Mamata Banerjee ahead of rally

Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee seems to be creating a new political narrative by kindling Bengali (asmita) identity by fighting for "Bengali-speaking migrants" in BJP-ruled states, ahead of the 2026 assembly polls and a day before Martyr's Day on Monday. A day ahead of Trinamool Congress' rally, Kolkata Police have deployed a team of senior officers, introduced a helpline and issued detailed guidelines following the Calcutta High Court's instructions on Friday.

The HC had directed the Kolkata Police to ensure that the processions should not cause any traffic congestions with Justice Tirthankar Ghosh restricting the movement of processions during office hours from 9 am to 11 am on Monday. "We have deployed senior officers. We have introduced a helpline. After 11 am, the rallies will be as usual. We will follow the instructions by the court," Commissioner of Kolkata Police- Manoj Verma said. Meanwhile, Banerjee reiterated on Sunday: "There is no reason why Bengali-speaking people should be put in jail. Why should they be tortured, harassed or arrested?" Banerjee, her cabinet members and Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee have overseen the preparations on Sunday ahead of the rally.

Migrant workers from Bengal form a substantial 22 lakh population of the state, according to the chief minister. She protested against their alleged confinement, detention and labelling of Bengali migrant workers in BJP-ruled states.


Banerjee usually uses the Martyrs' Day platform to kick-off the tone for the upcoming polls. However, this time, she walked in a procession from College Square to Esplanade in Central Kolkata for the cause of migrant workers, and setting the tone of the next polls. There have been many instances of Bengali-speaking migrants workers being detained in many parts of the country, including in Odisha, Rajasthan, Delhi and Maharashtra, in the recent past.