Bangla Paksha demands 100% allocation of new heritage taxis to native Bengalis in Kolkata

Bengali nationalist organization Bangla Paksha staged a deputation protest outside the Transport Department on R.N. Mukherjee Road on Tuesday, demanding that the recently introduced 3,000 heritage yellow taxis be reserved exclusively for native Bengalis. The group urged the government to ensure that only those who have resided in Bengal for at least 10 years qualify for taxi permits under the initiative.

Protesters also called for renaming the government’s "Yatri Sathi" initiative to "Jatri Sathi", aligning it with Bengali linguistic traditions. They claimed that while state policies like "Bangla Nijer Meyekei Chay" promote opportunities for women, Bengali men are not receiving similar employment benefits. The organization argued that an increasing number of non-Bengalis were securing government-backed economic opportunities, leaving native Bengalis at a disadvantage.

The protest highlighted concerns over unemployment among Bengali youth, with demonstrators stating that native residents are being systematically excluded from government-supported job opportunities. The group demanded special reservations for Bengalis in multiple state-sponsored employment projects. Alongside the deputation, participants organized a tree plantation drive, symbolizing the preservation of Bengali identity and economic security.

The Transport Department has not yet issued an official response to the demands. The protest follows ongoing debates over employment rights, migration, and regional identity in Bengal, with similar demands for job priority for native Bengalis surfacing in recent years. Protesters warned of larger mobilizations if their demands are not addressed.