'Will Rekindle Bitter Memories': CM Mamata Protests Governor's Event To Mark Bengal Foundation Day

Banerjee stated that Bengal was not founded on any particular day rather it was formed through the infamous Radcliffe Award, which was given legitimacy by the departing colonial/imperial government.

File photo of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday wrote to Governor CV Ananda Bose objecting to the State Foundation Day event to be organized at Raj Bhavan on June 20. Mamata in the letter requested Bengal Governor to not hold any programme "which will rekindle the bitter memories of crores of people in West Bengal."

 

Banerjee pointed out that the pain and trauma of partition was such, that people in the state have never commemorated any day as foundation day since India’s independence.

 

She stated that during a telephonic discussion earlier in the day, Bose had admitted that a "unilateral and non-consultative decision to declare a particular day as the Foundation Day of the State of West Bengal is not warranted."

 

Bengal CM further stated that Bose had assured her that he would not proceed with the programme. 

West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee writes to Governor CV Ananda Bose objecting to the State Foundation Day event to be organized at Raj Bhavan on June 20 pic.twitter.com/JNdmSD76Ii

— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2023

In the letter, CM said, "I would like to state that West Bengal was carved out of the undivided state of Bengal in 1947 through a most painful and traumatic process. The process involves uprooting of millions of people across the border and death and displacement of innumerable families. The economy of Bengal was destroyed and devasted and the truncated state of West Bengal suffered a sudden disruption of communication and infrastructure, too."

 

She further stated that Bengal was not founded on any particular day rather it was formed through the infamous Radcliffe Award, which was given legitimacy by the departing colonial/imperial government.

 

"Since Independence, we in West Bengal have never rejoiced over, or commemorated, or celebrated, any day as the Foundation Day of West Bengal. Rather, we have seen the partition as a result of unleashing of communal forces that could not be resisted at that point of time," she added.

 

The letter further stated, "Insofar as any communication of the Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India on this subject is concerned, we strongly protest against this historical, unconstitutional and unilateral decision of the Government of India to commemorate the so-called 'Foundation Day of the State of West Bengal' on 20th June."

 

According to PTI, on June 20, 1947, two meetings of separate sets of legislators in the Bengal Assembly were held. One of those who wanted West Bengal as part of India, voted in favour of the resolution by a majority. The other was of legislators of areas that eventually became East Pakistan. For the district of Sylhet which was part of Assam, it was decided to conduct a referendum.

 

Nearly 2.5 million people were displaced from both sides and properties worth crores of rupees were burnt down in post-partition rioting.