Archive · 22 Jul 2026
Divided Bengal Observes July 21 Remembrance
In Bengal, July 21 is a day to remember people who died in a police shooting in 1993.
This year, different political groups are holding separate events to honor the martyrs.
Mamata Banerjee's party, the Trinamool Congress, has a small, simple gathering.
Another group, the NCPI, holds a ceremony in New Delhi.
The Congress party, which was not allowed to hold its own event when the Trinamool was in power, now has its own program.
Families of the martyrs are also divided, with some supporting Mamata Banerjee and others criticizing her.
The day is not just about remembering the past but also about political fights for the future.
Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress holds a modest event at Birla Planetarium with limited attendance.
The NCPI, a splinter group from the Trinamool Congress, organizes a Martyrs' Remembrance program at Rajghat in New Delhi.
The Congress party, previously barred from holding its own event, now organizes a separate observance in Kolkata.
Families of the martyrs are divided, with some supporting Mamata Banerjee and others criticizing her for not fulfilling compensation promises.
Political rivalries and divisions mark the observance, with allegations of indirect BJP support for opposition events.
- Who
- Political leaders and factions in West Bengal, including Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, the NCPI, and the Congress party.
- What
- The divided observance of July 21 Remembrance Day, marking the 1993 police firing incident.
- When
- July 21, 2026.
- Where
- Kolkata and New Delhi.
- Why
- To honor the martyrs of the 1993 police firing and assert political legacies, but the event is marred by political divisions and rivalries.
Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress
Opposition Parties and Factions
Legacy of July 21
Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress
Mamata Banerjee's faction views July 21 as a day to remember the martyrs and honor their sacrifice, emphasizing the historical significance and the party's role in Bengal's political history.
Opposition Parties and Factions
Opposition parties, including the NCPI and Congress, argue that the legacy of July 21 has been politicized and that the true martyrs have not been adequately honored or compensated.
Political Support and Organization
Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress
Mamata Banerjee's camp alleges that the opposition's larger-scale events are indirectly supported by the BJP, though no concrete evidence has been provided.
Opposition Parties and Factions
The opposition parties, including the NCPI and Congress, organize their own events to honor the martyrs, asserting their right to remember and pay tribute independently.
- Date of Remembrance
- July 21, 2026
- Key Figures
- Mamata Banerjee, Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Suvendu Adhikari
- Locations of Observance
- New Delhi (Rajghat), Kolkata (Birla Planetarium, Shahid Minar, Kalighat)
- Historical Context
- Police firing on July 21, 1993, during which several Congress workers were killed.
- Compensation Issues
- Families of martyrs received Rs 2 lakh each, while injured individuals received Rs 15,000, contrary to the commission's recommendations.