The ‘Bengali And Non-Bengali’ Divide In West Bengal Politics

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The state is known for intense political rivalries, but ahead of next year’s high-stake assembly polls, there seems to be an undercurrent of Bengali-non Bengali divide.

Amid the controversy of ‘insiders’ and ‘outsiders’, state BJP president Dilip Ghosh said during a public programme that the contribution of non-Bengalis in the development of the state is more than that of Bengalis.

BJP’s political rivals claimed that the saffron camp believes in dividing the people rather than developing the state.

“Since the pre-Independence era, people who had come from other states played a crucial role in Bengal’s development. Most of those who worked in mills and factories here were from other states. So those from outside played a bigger role than the Bengalis in developing the state,” Ghosh said.

The state BJP chief had earlier taken a jibe at Chief Minister and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee, stating that she doesn’t care for those who pull rickshaws and drive taxis but engages with the likes of Shah Rukh Khan (Bengal brand ambassador) and Prasant Kishor (poll strategist).

“The poor people from other states who have settled in Bengal for jobs are outsiders for the chief minister and for her Shah Rukh Khan is an insider as he is the ambassador of the state,” Ghosh had quipped.

On Wednesday, the Midnapore MP said that the Birlas and Neotias are not Bengalis, but their contribution in the development of the state is immense.

“The tea gardens in North Bengal are nurtured by Nepalis. Birla, Neotia and other non-Bengali people settled here have also contributed towards the development of the state. How can someone deny that?” argued Ghosh.

State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury slammed Ghosh.

“This is an insult to the people of Bengal. They do not understand what a Bengali or non-Bengali means. People of Bengal have never distinguished between Bengalis and non-Bengalis. They (BJP) are trying to create a rift between people who speak Bengali and those who do not. They created Hindu vs Muslim narrative, now they are doing this. This is a degradation for Bengal.”

TMC secretary general Partha Chattopadhyay minced no words either.

“The comment of Ghosh clearly states that the BJP is not aware of the glorious past of the state. The BJP is always ready to divide the state and the people. BJP’s intent to humiliate and undermine Bengalis now stands exposed.

Left Front spokesperson and senior Politburo member Sujan Chakraborty said, “On one side didi is trying hard to prove her Bengali identity while the BJP is trying to prove their non Bengali identity. None of them are speaking about the basic issues of Bengal. If such people come to lead the state the sorry condition of the people can be easily imagined.”