‘Did You Ask Maldives President His Religion Before Hugging Him?’: Mamata Banerjee’s Sharp Jibe at PM Modi

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday launched a scathing attack on the Centre, accusing it of depriving the state of its rightful dues while extending generous financial aid abroad. Her remarks came amid the backdrop of the Centre’s recent decision to provide a ₹4,850 crore Line of Credit to the Maldives.

Speaking at the launch of the ‘Bhasha Andolan’ (Language Movement) from Bolpur in Birbhum district, Mamata Banerjee pledged to defend the Bengali language at all costs.

“I will give up my life, but not allow anyone to snatch away my language,” she declared, as quoted by PTI.

Targets PM Modi Over Religion and Foreign Aid

Taking a sharp dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Banerjee questioned the government’s priorities and communal rhetoric:

“When you go to Arab nations and hug the sheikhs, do you ask if they are Hindus or Muslims?”
She further criticized the PM’s recent visit to the Maldives, saying,
“Did you ask the Maldives President his religion before giving him ₹5,000 crore, while you deprive Bengal of its dues?”

Protests Against NRC and ‘Linguistic Discrimination’

The Chief Minister also alleged that the Centre and Election Commission were attempting to implement the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in West Bengal “through the backdoor,” targeting Bengali-speaking migrants under the guise of administrative processes.

Banerjee accused the central government of unleashing “linguistic terror”, claiming that a deliberate effort was underway to marginalize Bengali speakers.

“We will stop this conspiracy to jeopardise our existence in the name of linguistic terror. I won’t allow the NRC or the construction of detention camps in Bengal,” she asserted.

Banerjee’s remarks signal a renewed political offensive against the Centre, combining regional identity, migrant rights, and federal financial concerns — all under the broader umbrella of what she termed a battle for “language and dignity.”