Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, July 19, 2025, Kolkata/Jalpaiguri : With the Trinamool Congress’s annual Martyrs’ Day rally set for July 21 at Dharmatala, Kolkata, preparations are in full swing across the state, including Jalpaiguri district, where mobilization efforts have reached a fever pitch. Around 250 party workers from the Jalpaiguri City Block Trinamool Congress have already departed for Kolkata to participate in the rally, with leaders such as Shekhar Banerjee, Municipal leader Papiya Pal, Councilors Sandeep Mahato and Pinku Biswas, and former MP Vijay Chandra Barman leading the delegation.
According to district leaders, this year’s rally is not only a tribute to those who died in the 1993 protest but also a critical platform for shaping the party’s strategy ahead of the upcoming panchayat and assembly elections. “July 21 is an emotional day for us,” said one local leader. “We will not forget the blood debt of the martyrs. Delegates from every block, panchayat, and ward are heading to Kolkata as per the leader’s instructions.”
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and top party leadership are expected to address the massive gathering. Party insiders suggest the focus of this year’s speech will include strong messaging against the central government and setting the tone for the 2026 Lok Sabha elections. However, opposition parties, including the BJP, have dismissed the rally as a mere political spectacle.
The History and Origins of Martyrs’ Day
The July 21 Martyrs’ Day rally commemorates the 13 people who were shot dead by the West Bengal Police during a protest march in 1993, led by Mamata Banerjee, then a youth leader in the Indian National Congress. The rally, known as the Writers’ Building March, aimed to demand the mandatory implementation of photo voter ID cards—an issue that fell under the purview of the Election Commission of India, not the state government. Many believe the true intent of the march was to destabilize the then Left Front government and assert dominance within a faction-ridden Congress party.
On that fateful day, thousands of Congress workers had poured into central Kolkata, stretching from Bowbazar to Strand Road, Mayo Road to Brabourne Road. Tensions escalated when fiery speeches by youth leaders such as Mrigen Banerjee and Satya Bapuli incited the crowd to break police barricades. Violence broke out—shops were shut, club tents vandalized, the SSKM hospital was attacked, and New Market witnessed looting. On Red Road, some protesters attempted to block then Chief Minister Jyoti Basu’s vehicle, allegedly disguised in burqas.
The police, overwhelmed by the scale of violence, initially resorted to tear gas and baton charges. When that failed, they fired warning shots in the air. By 1:45 p.m., live rounds were fired into the crowd, killing 13 and injuring hundreds. Among the injured were 215 police personnel, a journalist from PTI, and numerous civilians. Weapons including pipe guns, bombs, and swords were later recovered from the crowd. During the firing, Mamata Banerjee took refuge in a police vehicle, later visiting the injured in hospital.
Despite the violence, the Congress party at the time distanced itself from the protest. Senior leader Gani Khan Chowdhury met Chief Minister Jyoti Basu the very next day and assured cooperation in maintaining law and order. The then Union Home Minister S.B. Chavan saw no grounds for a CBI or judicial inquiry. Internal reports later confirmed that intoxicated, armed elements had infiltrated the protest.
In 2011, after becoming Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee set up an inquiry commission led by retired Justice Sushanta Chatterjee. Though high-profile figures like Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Biman Bose were summoned, the final report (submitted in 2014) found no senior political or police official directly responsible. It controversially concluded that one of the deceased had died of cirrhosis, not a police bullet.
Despite this, Mamata Banerjee has turned the July 21 rally into a political tradition and rallying point, marking it annually as Martyrs’ Day since coming to power. Critics, however, argue that the 13 “martyrs” were not all innocent, with some allegedly armed and involved in violent acts, casting doubt on the narrative that the event was purely a democratic protest.
Preparations, Security, and Public Enthusiasm
On Friday, July 18, the Calcutta High Court issued guidelines to prevent traffic disruptions on July 21. The court ruled that all processions toward Dharmatala must reach either before 8:00 a.m. or after 11:00 a.m., ensuring normal traffic flow during peak hours. Justice Tirthankar Ghosh’s single-bench order aims to minimize chaos in Central Kolkata during the massive turnout expected at the rally.