CM Mamata to lead Jhargram ‘Language rally’ on Aug 6 over attacks on Bengali speakers in BJP-run states

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will lead a ‘Language Rally’ in Jhargram on August 6 to protest against alleged incidents involving Bengali-speaking individuals in various BJP-ruled states. This will be her third such rally after similar events were organised in Santiniketan and Kolkata. The rally is aimed at highlighting grievances faced by Bengali-speaking people outside West Bengal.

According to the plan, the rally will start from Rajbari Mor and proceed to Circus Maidan. Mamata Banerjee is expected to walk alongside tribal community members, civil society groups, and social workers. Jhargram, located in the Junglemahal region, has a significant tribal population and is being seen as a key location for the event.

A high-level meeting was held on Wednesday at the Assembly building in Kolkata to finalise preparations for the Chief Minister’s visit. The meeting was attended by Urban Development Minister Firhad Hakim, Jhargram district TMC president and MLA Dulal Murmu, Binpur MLA Devnath Hansda, Gopiballavpur MLA Khagendranath Mahato, and other leaders from the region. Officials present at the meeting informed that Minister Firhad Hakim would arrive in Jhargram a day in advance to supervise the arrangements.

MLA Devnath Hansda stated that the visit will also include an administrative meeting and other official engagements besides the rally. He confirmed that Mamata Banerjee will lead the rally from Rajbari Mor to Circus Maidan, and added that the route may be changed depending on local conditions.

Over recent months, complaints have surfaced from several parts of the country alleging that migrant workers from West Bengal were harassed for speaking Bengali. Incidents reported include being labelled as Bangladeshi nationals, having identity documents taken away, and being subjected to physical assault or theft. The rally has been planned in response to these allegations.