Didi says BJP threatening Bengalis in Assam; 'appeasement': CM retorts

Within 24 hours of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that BJP is the only party that truly respects and protects Bengali 'ashmita' (pride), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shot back, alleging that the BJP government in Assam is threatening citizens who speak in Bengali.

- KAUSHIK PRADHAN & PRASANTA MAZUMDAR @Kolkata/Guwahati

WITHIN 24 hours of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claim that BJP is the only party that truly respects and protects Bengali 'ashmita' (pride), West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shot back, alleging that the BJP government in Assam is threatening citizens who speak in Bengali.

Refuting her allegation, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma accused Banerjee of "encouraging illegal encroachment by a particular community and appeasing one religious community for vote banks".

Taking to X on Saturday, Banerjee said, "The second most spoken language in the country, Bangla, is also the second most spoken language of Assam. To threaten citizens, who want to coexist peacefully respecting all languages and religions, with persecution for upholding their own mother tongue is discriminatory and unconstitutional."