Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], August 3 (ANI): Trinamool Congress (TMC) MP Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday alleged that Delhi Police has referred to Bangla as 'Bangladeshi language' and termed it a 'calculated attempt' by the BJP to undermine the cultural identity and 'equate West Bengal with Bangladesh for narrow political propaganda.'

He also sought a public apology from the Delhi Police, the BJP, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

Banerjee shared the letter on X and wrote, 'For months now, Bengali-speaking people have been targeted, harassed and detained across BJP-ruled states. Now, in a shocking escalation, @DelhiPolice has officially referred to Bangla, as a 'Bangladeshi language' in an official letter. This is not a mere clerical error, It is yet another CALCULATED ATTEMPT by the BJP to defame Bengal, undermine our cultural identity and equate West Bengal with Bangladesh for narrow political propaganda.'

https://x.com/abhishekaitc/status/1951972229283230075

Expressing anguish, the TMC MP stated that to call Bangla a foreign language is not just an insult, but it's an attack on identity, culture and belonging of Bengali people.

He further accused the BJP of being 'Bangla Birodhi and Zamindar', alleging that the party does not respect India's diversity and thrives on creating divisions.

The social media post reads, 'It is a direct violation of Article 343 and the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution. There is no language called 'Bangladeshi.' To call Bangla a foreign language is not just an insult- It's an attack on our identity, culture and belonging. Bengalis are not outsiders in their own homeland. This is why we call the BJP BANGLA BIRODHI and ZAMINDAR. They do not respect India's diversity. They thrive on division.'

Demanding accountability, Banerjee called for the immediate suspension of the investigating officer concerned and sought a public apology from the Delhi Police, the BJP, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.

He said, 'We demand the immediate suspension of Investigating Officer Amit Dutt and a formal public apology from @DelhiPolice, @BJP4India, and the Home Ministry led by @AmitShah. BANGLA AND BENGALIS ARE INDIAN. Bangla is our pride. We will not allow our identity to be trampled.'

Earlier today, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Delhi Police of describing Bengali as a 'Bangladeshi language', calling it scandalous, anti-national and unconstitutional.

Sharing a letter by Delhi Police on X, Banerjee said, 'See now how Delhi police under the direct control of the Ministry of Home, Government of India, is describing Bengali as 'Bangladeshi' language! Bengali, our mother tongue, the language of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda, the language in which our National Anthem and the National Song (the latter by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay) are written, the language in which crores of Indians speak and write, the language which is sanctified and recognised by the Constitution of India, is now described as a Bangladeshi language!!' (ANI)