**Title:** TMC Criticizes Assam CM for Linguistic Discrimination
**Meta Description:** TMC condemns Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma’s remarks linking Bengali language to illegal immigration, demanding an apology or resignation.
**URL Slug:** tmc-assam-cm-linguistic-discrimination
**Headline:** TMC Slams Assam Chief Minister for Controversial Remarks on Bengali Language
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) has strongly criticized Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma for his recent comments that associate the Bengali language with the identification of illegal immigrants. The party has accused Sarma of fostering linguistic discrimination and has called for either a public apology or his resignation from office.
TMC spokesperson Debangshu Bhattacharya expressed disapproval of the Assam government’s decision to issue a National Register of Citizens (NRC) notice to a member of the Rajbanshi community, labeling it an overreach of authority. He condemned Sarma’s assertion that speaking Bengali could aid in identifying individuals from Bangladesh, arguing that it reflects a broader trend by the BJP to target Bengali-speaking people.
“Bengali is the third most spoken language in India and the second most spoken in Assam,” Bhattacharya stated. “It is alarming that the Chief Minister overlooks the significant contributions of Bengali speakers to the freedom movement and the existence of West Bengal, where Bengali is the primary language. The BJP has repeatedly demonstrated its opposition to Bengali-speaking individuals, and their disdain for the language is becoming increasingly evident.”
Echoing these sentiments, TMC MP Sushmita Dev described Sarma’s remarks as a direct assault on the Bengali language and its speakers. She highlighted a pattern of harassment against Bengali speakers across various states, noting that individuals have faced arrest and eviction simply for speaking Bengali. “Now, the Assam CM has effectively suggested that identifying Bengali as one’s mother tongue could render one a suspect illegal migrant. This is a clear case of linguistic profiling,” she asserted.
Dev demanded that Sarma retract his statement and apologize, warning that failure to do so should result in his resignation. “A person in a constitutional position should not promote division or discrimination based on language,” she added, cautioning that such rhetoric could reignite tensions in linguistically diverse regions like Assam.
TMC MLA Udayan Guha also raised concerns about the targeting of Bengali-speaking Hindus and members of the Rajbanshi community, stating, “Bengali speakers—regardless of their religion—are being singled out simply for their language.”
Sarma’s comments come amid escalating tensions surrounding identity and citizenship in Assam. On July 10, he remarked that Bengali-origin Muslims not identifying Assamese as their mother tongue would assist the government in identifying foreigners. He dismissed fears that a decline in the number of people choosing Assamese would jeopardize the language’s survival, asserting, “Assamese will remain where it is.”
The backlash against Sarma’s statements coincides with the Assam government’s intensified eviction drives. Recently, in Goalpara district, authorities cleared 140 hectares of forest land in the Paikan Reserve Forest, displacing over 1,000 families, many of whom were reportedly Bengali-speaking Muslims.
**FAQ:**
**Q: What were the implications of Assam CM’s remarks on the Bengali language?**
A: The remarks have been interpreted as promoting linguistic discrimination and have sparked demands for an apology or resignation from TMC, highlighting concerns over the targeting of Bengali speakers in Assam.