Mamata likely to raise 'harassment of Bengali migrants in BJP-ruled states' issue in Martyrs' Day rally today

Mamata, who heads the TMC, will be joined by her top party leaders including her nephew Abhishek Banerjee at the annual event that is organised primarily to pay tributes to the 13 people who died in a police firing in Kolkata in 1993 during an agitation against the Left Front government.

Mamata as the youth leader of her then party Congress was leading a rally demanding that identity cards be made mandatory to cast votes.

The Chief Minister, who held a roadshow in Kolkata last week, is likely to raise the Bengali identity issue in the backdrop of the alleged harassment of the Bengali migrants in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-ruled states.

The TMC chief is likely to oppose the Election Commission of India (ECI)'s voter revision drive, which Mamata suspects as a National Register of Citizens (NRC) through the backdoor.

West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, who is holding a mega political event in Siliguri, has slammed the Martyrs' Day rally, which is being held in downtown Kolkata.

"It's not a rally but a gala event. The supporters are coming in a bus dancing! People, who have been forced to attend the rally, are already returning," said the BJP strongman.

Adhikari will be joining the BJP youth wing's march to the state government's branch secretariat Uttar Kanya in Siliguri as a counter to Mamata's rally on Monday.

Modi's tough message on infiltration

Modi on Friday accused the TMC of backing the infiltrators for its alleged appeasement politics and endangering "Bengal's unique identity".

Addressing a mega rally in Durgapur, Modi asserted the "infiltrators will be dealt with according to the Constitution".

The Prime Minister accused the TMC of issuing "fake identity cards" to the infiltrators.

"For the BJP, Bengali identity is paramount. But what is happening here? Trinamool is endangering Bengal’s unique culture for its own interests. They are allowing infiltrators in, issuing them fake identity cards.

"They have created an entire ecosystem that is harming both the country and Bengal. In their pursuit of appeasement, they have crossed all limits. They are even taking to the streets in support of infiltrators. They are threatening the Constitution and constitutional institutions of the country," said the Prime Minister.

In a strict message from the 'Steel City of West Bengal', Modi invoked Maa Durga and said everyone who is an infiltrator will be dealt with legally.

"But from the sacred land of Maa Durga, I want to say this clearly: those who are not citizens of India, who have entered illegally, will be dealt with according to the Constitution of India and through legal means. The BJP will not allow any conspiracy against Bengali identity to succeed. This is Modi’s guarantee," said the Prime Minister.