Mamata Says Speaking Bengali Is A Must For Living In Bengal, Equates ‘Outsiders’ With Criminals

Amidst the ongoing medical crisis in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to spur a language imposition debate by asserting that people living in the state must talk Bengali, Press Trust of India has reported.

“When I go to Bihar, UP, Punjab, I speak in their language, if you are in Bengal you have to speak Bangla. I will not tolerate criminals who stay in Bengal and roam around on bikes”, ANI quoted Mamata as saying.

Mamata then proceeded to blame “outsiders” for instigating the doctors and alleged that they are involved in the ongoing protests. The Chief Minster claimed that she herself saw some “outsiders” raising slogans.

She had yesterday (13 June) courted another controversy by alleging that the BJP was behind the agitation and had instructed doctors to not treat Muslim patients.

It was earlier reported that, senior doctors in medical colleges and hospital in the state on Friday (14 June) resigned en masse. More than 200 resignations were submitted by Friday noon.

The first to offer resignation were Saibal Kumar Mukherjee (principal) and Saurabh Chattopadhyay (medical superintendent and vice-principal) of Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital (NRSMCH), the epicentre of the protests. The move was hailed by the protesting junior doctors.

In their resignation letters, both the doctors expressed their regret “for being unable to overcome the crisis prevailing at the NRS Medical College”.