E-Paper
‘Bengalis being harassed’: Mamata Banerjee vows to oust BJP from Centre on Martyrs' Day
Mamata Banerjee criticised the BJP during the Trinamool Congress’ Martyrs’ Day rally, vowing to fight until the party is ousted from power.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party-led central government during the Trinamool Congress’ annual Martyrs’ Day rally in Kolkata, vowing to continue her fight until the BJP is removed from power at the Centre.
"Our fight will continue till we oust the BJP from the Centre," said Mamata Banerjee, addressing a large crowd of supporters at Esplanade. The annual rally on ‘Shaheed Diwas’ marks the killing of 13 youth Congress workers in 1993 during a protest in Kolkata.
Also Read | Mamata Banerjee, Himanta Sarma lock horns on X over ‘divisive politics’
Targeting the BJP over rising crimes against women, Mamata Banerjee demanded answers and accountability from the saffron party.
"The BJP should answer why women in states ruled by it are facing atrocities," she said, adding, "We are against any form of atrocities against women, take immediate action against such incidents."
“We have to win more seats in the 2026 Bengal assembly election, then aim to defeat the BJP at the Centre,” Trinamool Congress supremo said at the rally.
Also Read | ‘Resisting unchecked infiltration’: Assam CM hits back at Mamata's ‘divisive agenda’ remark
She also raised concerns about the treatment of Bengalis in the BJP-ruled states, claiming they are being singled out and persecuted.
"Bengalis being harassed, put in detention camps in the BJP-ruled states," the CM alleged.
Sharpening her attack on Himanta Biswas Sarma, Banerjee said, "The Assam chief minister, who cannot properly handle his own state, meddling in affairs of Bengal, Mamata Banerjee at TMC Martyrs' Day rally.
Also Read | 'I am ashamed of BJP's attitude towards Bengalis': Mamata Banerjee leads mega Kolkata protest
In a sharp political accusation, Banerjee said there was a coordinated attempt to disenfranchise Bengalis.
"The BJP and the Election Commission are conspiring against Bengal and want to remove Bengalis from the voter list," she alleged, without citing specific incidents.
“The BJP is planning to conduct special intensive revision (SIR)-like exercise in West Bengal, but we will never allow it,” Banerjee said.
This year’s Shaheed Diwas rally holds significance as it is being seen as the launchpad for the TMC’s campaign for the 2026 West Bengal assembly election.
The BJP, meanwhile, had dismissed the allegations as political posturing, blaming the TMC government for the chaos over the documentation of migrant workers and infiltration.
Apart from Banerjee, TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee will be the key speaker at the rally.
