Mamata Banerjee Slams Delhi Police For Tagging Bengali As 'Bangladeshi Language'

A major controversy broke out on Sunday after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Delhi Police of referring to Bengali as a "Bangladeshi language" in an official communication. Banerjee termed the alleged reference "scandalous, anti-national and unconstitutional," igniting a fierce row over linguistic identity and regional respect.

Sharing an image of a letter purportedly issued by the Lodhi Colony Police Station in Delhi's South District, Banerjee alleged that the document categorized Bengali as a foreign language associated with Bangladesh rather than recognizing it as one of India's constitutionally sanctioned languages.

"This is an insult to all Bengali-speaking people of the country," the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo wrote in a post on 'X' (formerly Twitter). "The Delhi Police cannot use this kind of language which degrades and debases Bengalis." She urged citizens to launch the "strongest possible protests" against what she called the "anti-Bengali government of India."

Calling Bengali the "language of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda," Banerjee underscored its deep-rooted significance in Indian heritage. "Our National Anthem and National Song are written in Bengali. How dare anyone refer to it as a Bangladeshi language?" she asked.

As of now, the Delhi Police has not officially responded to the allegations.

Political Fallout Deepens

The incident has escalated into a full-blown political clash. Banerjee, who has frequently accused the BJP-led central government of marginalizing regional identities, reiterated that Bengali-speaking people are being discriminated against in BJP-ruled states like Haryana and Rajasthan.

"I am shocked to receive regular reports of Bengalis being attacked. These atrocities by double-engine governments must stop," she stated.

BJP Counters Mamata's Allegations

Responding to the uproar, the BJP denied any disrespect towards the Bengali language or its speakers. The party maintained that any official actions were targeted at illegal migrants, not Indian citizens.

"Those being questioned are illegal Bangladeshis, who may speak Bangla but are not Indian nationals," said BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya on social media. "Stop using the language to shield illegal immigration and further your divisive politics."