Mamata Banerjee, West Bengal Chief Minister has again ask the central government to change the name of her state to ‘Bangla’. She point out that if Bombay’s name is change to Mumbai and Orissa’s name is change to Odisha, why not West Bengal?
Mamata Banerjee said in a press conference in Kolkata :
“We have earlier passed a Bill to change the name of our state in the Assembly. We have given them all sorts of clarifications. But for a long time, they have not changed the name of our state to Bangla,”.
“Bombay’s name changed to Mumbai, Orissa to Odisha…but why can’t ours be changed? What is our fault,”.
She also highlight the advantages the state will get if its name is change to Bangla, which alphabetically comes much earlier than West Bengal, She said that it will help the state’s children when they go to competitions.
Mamata Banerjee said :
“If our state’s name is change to Bangla, our children who participate in various competitions and go for studies will get priority. In every meeting, we are force to wait till the end. W, X, Y, Z. The importance of Bangla has been reduced,”.
CM of WB said that there is no need to add ‘West’ to the name of the state.
Explaining it with an example, Mamata Banerjee said that Pakistan has a province name Punjab and India has a state with the same name adjoining it.
CM Mamata Banerjee Said :
“We don’t think there is no need to divide when the name of the state is Bangla. Pakistan has a province named Punjab. India too has a state named Punjab. If Bangaldesh can stay Bangladesh internationally, why can’t West Bengal be changed to Bangla,”.
TMC government had earlier raise the demand to change the state’s name to ‘Paschim Banga‘ or ‘Paschim Bango‘ when it came to power in 2011.
After 5 years, the Mamata Banerjee government pass another resolution proposing the new name as “Bongo” or “Bangla“.
Mamata Banerjee has also written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi asking him to designate Ganga Sagar Mela as a “national fair“.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee Said :
“We have sent letters about Gangasagar Mela earlier and we are sending a letter today as well. We have spent 250 crores this time as well. We are happy that Kumbha Mela has got ‘national fair’ acknowledgement. Kumbha Mela is not held every year, but Ganga Sagar is held every year,”.
Comparing the Ganga Sagar Mela to Kumbh Mela which has designate as a ‘national fair’, Mamata Banerjee said :
“Ganga Sagar is located at an island in Sundarban. Every year more than one crore people have to cross the waters to reach Ganga Sagar. How are we behind?…If they can get this achnowlegement, why will Bangla be deprived of having Ganga Sagar Mela acknowledged as a national fair?”
Mamata Banerjee said that more than one crore people may be coming for the Ganga Sagar Mela this Makar Sankranti.
CM Mamata Banerjee said :
“Last year around 80 lakh people came for the Mela. This year, as there is no Kumbha Mela this time, more than one crore people might be coming,”.
The West Bengal Chief Minister had demand ‘national mela‘ status for Gangasagar Mela earlier as well.
In 2021, Mamata Banerjee complain that while the Centre funds the Kumbh Mela, it does not provide any financial assistance for the Gangasagar Mela.
