Those living in Bengal must speak Bengali: CM Mamata Banerjee
What's the story
After suffering a knockout in recently concluded Lok Sabha polls, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has come up with a new idea to 'connect with voters'. The Trinamool matriarch on Friday said non-Bengalis living in the state will have to learn Bengali. This is the first time that Banerjee played the Bengali card. But the question is: Will her gamble yield results?
Statement
Banerjee said it's important to take 'Bangla forward'
Addressing Trinamool workers in Kanchrapara of North 24 Parganas district on Friday, Banerjee stressed on taking "Bangla forward". "When I go to Bihar, UP, Punjab, I speak in their language. When I go to Tamil Nadu, I don't know the Tamil language, but I know a few words. If someone is living in Bengal, he or she has to learn Bengali," she said.
Gujarat Model
"How long will people of Bengal be quiet?"
Banerjee, who has been a staunch critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, accused BJP of replicating "Gujarat model" in the state. She claimed minorities and Bengalis were being targeted. "I will not tolerate criminals who stay in Bengal and roam around on bikes. If non-Bengalis continue to target Bengali-speaking people, then will people of Bengal keep quiet," she asked.
Quote
According to Banerjee, BJP was instigating post-poll violence
"They (the BJP) are instigating post-poll violence in the state. They were trying to create differences between Rajbongshis and Bengalis, Gorkhas and Bengalis and were also instigating Biharis and people from UP who live in the state," she went on.
Details
Banerjee said Bengalis believe in "co-existence" but with conditions
To recall, a few years ago, people from Bihar and UP were unfairly targeted in Maharashtra at the behest of political parties. They wanted people from "other states" to leave Maharashtra. Referring to that incident, Banerjee said Bengalis believed in "co-existence" but BJP was creating a Bengali and non-Bengali divide. "I would urge them to not test our patience," she threatened.
Reason
Apparently, growing clout of non-Bengali speaking people has troubled Banerjee
Giving insights on what transpired Banerjee's controversial statements, a Trinamool adviser told The Hindu that she has been worried that clout of non-Bengali speaking people increased in the state. "So long these communities only pushed their economic interest in the State but being affluent now they are also pushing their political interests, contesting elections and influencing agendas," the adviser said.
Polls
Will Banerjee's bias help her stall BJP's rise in Bengal?
The general elections shook Banerjee's citadel as Trinamool won only 22 seats while BJP won 18. It won't be surprising if we witness high-pitched electioneering before 2021 assembly polls. Her latest statement shows she is relying on regional sentiments to counter BJP's nationalism. However, she has shown her bias with the "Bengal for Bengalis" idea and it could prove costly to her.