TMC Seeks Apology from Himanta Over ‘Bengali as Mother Tongue’ Comment

swift summary

• The Trinamool Congress (TMC) raised objections to remarks made by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, linking those writing bengali in Census documents to being “foreigners” in Assam.
• Sarma suggested that replacing Assamese with Bengali in electoral rolls could indicate the presence of foreigners in the state.
• In response, TMC criticized Sarma’s statements via social media posts, calling them “outrageous,” referencing Bengal’s cultural contributions like the National Anthem “Jana Gana Mana” and National Song “Vande Mataram.”
• A Foreigners’ Tribunal recently declared uttam Kumar Brajabasi from Cooch Behar as an “illegal migrant,” leading to conflicting claims about his state of origin between Mamata Banerjee and Himanta Biswa Sarma.
• TMC leader Sushmita Dev accused BJP-lead governments of racial profiling and harassment against Bengali-speaking individuals,describing these actions as divisive politics.

Indian Opinion Analysis

The remarks by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and subsequent criticism from West Bengal’s Trinamool Congress bring attention to longstanding tensions around identity politics in northeastern India.While linguistic and cultural aspects such as language registration hold administrative significance for governance purposes, associating language choices directly with foreign nationality risks alienating communities.

This controversy highlights broader concerns regarding regional unity versus differentiation-balancing identity preservation with inclusivity remains a complex challenge for states dealing with migration issues. Additionally, accusations of racial profiling may deepen mistrust among ethnic groups at both local and national levels.Clear communication on policy intent is critical for avoiding further polarization over sensitive topics like citizenship status or language-based demographics.

Published – July 13, 2025