West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses a gathering in Kolkata during the “Shahid Smarane Shraddhanjali” (Tribute in Memory of Martyrs) program on 21 July, observed as Martyrs’ Day by the Trinamool Congress.
| Photo Credit:
DEBASISH BHADURI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday claimed that the Narendra Modi-led Central government is being controlled by American President Donald Trump.
Addressing the Trinamool Congress’ annual “Martyrs’ Day” rally in Kolkata, Banerjee questioned the Centre’s “failure” to reclaim Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) during the recent escalation with Islamabad.
She referred to the Pahalgam terror attack and the subsequent “Operation Sindoor”, during which India had struck multiple terror camps across the border.
“The American President (Donald Trump) controls the Central government. You (Centre) are being controlled by the American President, and you dare to lecture us? You follow his (Trump’s) orders,” she said, launching a scathing attack on the BJP-led central government.
The West Bengal Chief minister’s comments appeared to be a reference to Trump’s controversial claim that he had persuaded India into a ceasefire with Pakistan by threatening to cut off trade with both the countries. Indian officials had denied any third-party involvement in the de-escalation.
Banerjee also hit out at the BJP Government at the Centre over the deportation of illegal immigrants from the US in February this year. “When America sent back illegal immigrants in shackles, where was the BJP? Why didn’t they raise their voice then?” she asked.
Poll roadmap
Laying out the ruling Trinamool Congress’ roadmap ahead of next year’s crucial Assembly elections in West Bengal, the party supremo announced the launch of a ‘Bhasha Andolon’ (Language Movement) from July 27 to protest the alleged “harassment and detention” of Bengali-speaking migrant workers across the country.
“There is a reign of terror on the Bengali language. More than 1000 people have been detained and jailed in BJP-ruled states including Odisha, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Whoever speaks Bengali is being detained in BJP-ruled states.” Banerjee said.
She threatened to take the agitation to Delhi if, like in Bihar, voters’ names are removed from electoral rolls in Bengal.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week lashed out at Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress for allegedly “risking Bengal’s identity” for vote-bank politics.
Addressing a rally in West Bengal’s Durgapur, Modi on last Friday launched a scathing attack against the Trinamool Congress, accusing it of encouraging infiltration and putting the country’s national security at stake for the sake of vote-bank politics.
“Because of its vested interests, Trinamool Congress has put the identity of West Bengal at stake. For the sake of vote-bank politics, infiltration is being encouraged here. A complete ecosystem has been created to support infiltrators. This is a threat to both national security and Bengal’s security and identity,” Modi had said.
Published on July 21, 2025