West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has once again taken aim at the Election Commission (EC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), this time centering her remarks on the politics of language and identity.
Speaking at an administrative meeting in Burdwan on Tuesday, Banerjee asserted: “If Bangladesh and West Bengal share a language, what can I do? Should people be denied jobs, hotel accommodation, or education opportunities just because they speak in Bengali? We will never accept such discrimination.”
Her comments come amid allegations that the ongoing revision of voter lists is being used to deliberately exclude Bengali-speaking communities. Mamata accused the authorities of trying to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) “through the back door,” claiming that attempts are underway to erase the citizenship rights of Bengali voters.
Directly addressing the Election Commission, she said: “I respect the Election Commission, but it must not act as BJP’s lollipop. The Commission cannot function as the ruling party’s tool during elections.”
Taking a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee asked why he portrays West Bengal as corrupt to justify financial cuts: “If the question is about theft, why not look at Uttar Pradesh or Maharashtra? Why single out Bengal?”
She further alleged that the central government is systematically depriving West Bengal of its fair financial dues through discriminatory policies, framing the issue as one of regional justice.
With elections approaching, Banerjee’s sharp rhetoric has gained renewed urgency, especially as she appeals to Bengali-speaking populations along the Indo-Bangladesh border who feel most vulnerable to exclusionary citizenship drives.
The BJP has not yet issued a formal response to her latest remarks. Previously, however, the party has dismissed her claims as “fear-mongering” aimed at confusing voters.
