Archive · 21 Jul 2026
Mamata Banerjee Spends Night at Martyrs' Day Rally
Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress (TMC) party held a big event to remember people who died in a police shooting in 1993.
They set up a stage and had a rally, but Mamata said some bad people supported by the BJP party ruined their things and scared people away.
She stayed all night to protect the event.
The BJP said the TMC was making a fuss and not really honoring the martyrs.
The BJP also showed a report about the 1993 shooting that the TMC had kept secret.
Other groups, like a different part of the TMC and the Congress party, also had their own events nearby.
The police were there to keep everyone safe.
This year's event was special because it's the first time since the BJP took over the government from the TMC.
Mamata Banerjee spent the night at her faction's Martyrs' Day rally venue to prevent alleged vandalism by BJP-backed miscreants.
Three rival political camps held parallel programmes in central Kolkata, turning the event into a contest over legacy and political relevance.
Mamata alleged vandalism and intimidation, claiming BJP-backed miscreants disrupted the event and prevented attendees.
The BJP rejected the allegations, accusing the TMC of betraying the martyrs and questioning their overnight camp at the venue.
The BJP government tabled a long-withheld judicial report on the 1993 firing, adding a new political dimension to the observance.
- Who
- Mamata Banerjee, TMC leaders, BJP officials, rival TMC faction, Congress
- What
- Parallel Martyrs' Day programmes and allegations of vandalism
- When
- July 21, 2026
- Where
- Central Kolkata, near Birla Planetarium
- Why
- To commemorate the 1993 police firing and assert political legitimacy
Mamata Banerjee's TMC
BJP
Vandalism Allegations
Mamata Banerjee's TMC
Mamata Banerjee alleged that BJP-backed miscreants vandalized the stage, banners, and sound system, and intimidated attendees.
BJP
The BJP rejected the allegations, questioning the TMC leaders' overnight camp at the venue and accusing them of betraying the martyrs.
Political Legacy
Mamata Banerjee's TMC
Mamata Banerjee's faction aims to reclaim the narrative and honor the martyrs, emphasizing the TMC's historical connection to the event.
BJP
The BJP government tabled a judicial report on the 1993 firing, attempting to reclaim the narrative and challenge the TMC's historical claims.
- Date
- July 21, 2026
- Location
- Central Kolkata, near Birla Planetarium
- Key Figures
- Mamata Banerjee, Abhishek Banerjee, Derek O'Brien, Kalyan Banerjee, Dola Sen, Dilip Ghosh
- Event Significance
- First Martyrs' Day observance since BJP ended TMC's 15-year rule
- Allegations
- Vandalism and intimidation by BJP-backed miscreants
- Security Measures
- Massive security deployment, barricades, drones, and additional personnel
- Judicial Report
- Long-withheld report on 1993 firing tabled by BJP government