The Indian Express reported that Loreto House, Loreto Convent Entally, St James’ School, The Heritage School, Loreto Day School Sealdah, Loreto Day School Elliot Road, Loreto Day School Dharamtala, and Loreto Day School Bowbazar were closed today.
Security has been beefed up as thousands of supporters have reached the capital from across the state. Banerjee is expected to take direct aim at the BJP’s “double standards” — questioning how the same party that talks of Bengali pride in Bengal is accused of humiliating Bengalis elsewhere. The rally is set to the tone for the 2026 state Assembly elections.
“Being born a Bengali has become a crime in BJP states. They think every Bengali is from Bangladesh. We won’t tolerate this insult,” Banerjee thundered at a recent public meeting.
Banerjee is expected to issue a clarion call to her party workers, reiterating her message that “Bengalis are not second-class citizens in their own country”. “Time and again, poor Bengali-speaking workers are being picked up, harassed, and branded as illegal infiltrators. The BJP is criminalising poverty and weaponising identity to harass the marginalised,” a senior TMC leader told PTI.
Traffic advisory
The Kolkata Police has issued a traffic advisory. Here are the routes to avoid 4am and 9 pm today:
- Amherst Street
- Bidhan Sarani (fromKeshab Chandra Sen Streetto Vivekananda Road)
- College Street
- Brabourne Road
- Strand Road (from Hare Street to Raja Woodmunt Street)
- BB Ganguly Street
- Bentinck Street
- New CIT Road
- Rabindra Sarani (from BK Paul Avenue to Lalbazar Street)
City police helpline numbers:
Distress helpline: 100
Police control room: 033-22143230
Traffic control room: 033-22143644
Martyrs’ Day rally
The Martyrs’ Day rally, observed annually on July 21, commemorates the killing of 13 youth activists in police firing in 1993 when Mamata Banerjee, then a fiery Youth Congress leader, led a march to the state secretariat demanding that voter ID cards be made the sole document for franchise. Over the years, the rally has morphed into the biggest show of political strength by the TMC, often setting the tone for upcoming battles.
This year’s rally, party insiders say, will be a launch pad for a high-voltage campaign leading up to the 2026 assembly polls.
Tea stalls and dhabas in Esplanade and Sealdah are abuzz with slogans like “Khela Hobe, abar hobe” and “Banglar keu Bangladeshi noy” (No Bengali from Bengal is a Bangladeshi).
