TMC Commemorates Martyrs' Day in Kolkata with Rally and Remembrance
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) commemorated Martyrs' Day in Kolkata, honoring the memory of 13 Youth Congress workers killed in a police firing during a protest in 1993. TMC leaders reflected on the tragic event, with MP Sougata Roy criticizing Mamata Banerjee for her political decisions since then. Meanwhile, rebel TMC MPs visited Rajghat to pay tribute to the martyrs, highlighting ongoing political tensions in West Bengal. This event not only serves as a remembrance but also sheds light on the current political landscape and the challenges faced by the TMC.
| Jul 21, 2026, 14:44 IST
TMC Holds Martyrs' Day Rally in Kolkata
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) organized a rally at the Birla Planetarium in Kolkata on Tuesday to commemorate 'Martyrs' Day' on July 21. This event honors the memory of 13 Youth Congress workers who lost their lives during a police firing incident in 1993, which occurred amid protests against the Left Front government. Supporters of the TMC gathered in Kolkata for the occasion, with one expressing confidence in the party's electoral prospects, stating, 'TMC will win again. I support Didi.'
Remembering the 1993 Incident
During the Martyrs' Day event, TMC MP Sougata Roy reflected on the tragic events of 1993, noting that the protest was led by Mamata Banerjee. He recounted how the police opened fire on a procession demanding voter identification cards, resulting in the deaths of 13 individuals and injuries to around 200 others. Since that incident, Banerjee has been observing Martyrs' Day in remembrance of those who fell.
Controversy Surrounding the Commemoration
Roy criticized Banerjee, alleging that she feigned sorrow for the martyrs while appointing Manish Gupta, the principal secretary of the Home Department at the time of the incident, as a minister. Gupta was implicated in the orders that led to the shooting of Congress workers. Despite losing the elections, Banerjee elevated him to a higher position. Roy further accused her of suppressing the report from the Sushant Chatterjee Commission for years and refusing to make it public, while the main conspirator of the incident was welcomed into her party and given a ministerial role.
Rebel TMC MPs Pay Tribute at Rajghat
Meanwhile, rebel TMC MPs who joined the NCPI visited Rajghat in Delhi to honor the memory of the fallen Youth Congress workers. Sudip Bandopadhyay, a rebel TMC MP and NCPI leader, stated that they gathered to remember the 13 innocent workers killed during the police firing in 1993 under the Jyoti Basu government. He emphasized that they observe July 21 as Martyrs' Day in protest of that incident. Bandopadhyay mentioned their transition to the new party, NCPI, as a reason for their visit to Rajghat. Another rebel MP, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, noted that the decision to join the new party was influenced by the concerns of the people of West Bengal.