Mamata Banerjee Slams Delhi Police for Labeling Bengali as ‘Bangladeshi Language’

KOLKATA-  A letter issued by the Delhi Police referring to the Bengali language as the “Bangladeshi language” has ignited a firestorm of criticism from political leaders, cultural figures, and Bengali-speaking communities across India.

The controversial letter, dated August 3, 2025, from Lodhi Colony Police Station to Banga Bhawan, the West Bengal state guest house in New Delhi, sought translation assistance for documents linked to the arrest of eight suspected illegal Bangladeshi nationals.

Also Read- Supreme Court Halts Defamation Case Against Rahul Gandhi Over Army-China Clash Remarks

The use of the term “Bangladeshi language” has been condemned as an insult to Bengali, a constitutionally recognized Indian language and the medium of India’s national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.

Reactions from Leaders:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee led the charge, calling the reference “scandalous, insulting, anti-national, and unconstitutional.” She accused the BJP-led central government and Delhi Police, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, of demeaning Bengali-speaking Indians and urged nationwide protests against what she termed an “anti-Bengali” stance. “Bengali is the language of Rabindranath Tagore, Swami Vivekananda, and our national anthem. This is an attack on our identity,” Banerjee stated at a rally in Kolkata.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee echoed her sentiments, alleging a “calculated attempt” to defame Bengal and violate the Constitution’s Eighth Schedule, which recognizes Bengali as one of India’s 22 official languages.

TMC MP Mahua Moitra demanded an apology and strict action against the officer responsible, dismissing claims of a clerical error.

In Tripura, TIPRA Motha leader Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarman called the terminology “deeply concerning” and warned of divisive narratives, while the Communist Party of India (Marxist) condemned it as a “criminalisation of language and identity.”Cultural icons also voiced their dismay.

Also Read- Assam: Wife, Daughter Among 4 Arrested in Shocking Murder of Businessman Uttam Gogoi in Dibrugarh

Bengali filmmaker Srijit Mukherji remarked, “That’s not Bangladeshi language—that’s Bangla, the language of our national anthem.”

Singer Rupam Islam labeled the reference “utter ignorance,” emphasizing Bengali’s official status.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) sought to defuse the situation, with West Bengal BJP President Samik Bhattacharya arguing that the police were referring to dialectal differences in documents linked to the suspects, not the Bengali language as a whole.

BJP IT Cell Chief Amit Malviya called Banerjee’s reaction “dangerously inflammatory,” accusing her of inciting linguistic conflict. However, these explanations have been widely rejected, with protests erupting in Kolkata led by TMC leaders, including ministers Chandrima Bhattacharya and Shashi Panja, demanding protection for Bengali identity.

The controversy has raised broader concerns about linguistic sensitivity and the treatment of Bengali-speaking communities in BJP-ruled states, with critics alleging a pattern of marginalization.

As of now, Delhi Police has issued no official clarification or apology, fueling further outrage. The incident underscores the delicate balance of India’s linguistic diversity and the potential for missteps to escalate into national debates.