Samajwadi Party (SP) Chief Akhilesh Yadav left his residence in Lucknow on Sunday to join the Trinamool Dharmatala Rally, held later in Kolkata on the same day. The Trinamool Congress (TMC) is observing its annual ‘Shahid Diwas’ (Martyrs’ Day) today, in remembrance of the 13 people shot dead in Kolkata in 1993 during a protest by the West Bengal Youth Congress. A large crowd has gathered in Esplanade, Kolkata, for the TMC rally.
On July 20, Mamata Banerjee took to her social media account on platform X to write about the upcoming Shahid Diwas. Banerjee wrote, “21st July is a blood-soaked day in the history of Bengal. 13 lives were brutally taken away by the repressive regime of CPI (M) on this day in 1993. I lost 13 of my co-fighters in my battle against repression. 21st July is, therefore, an emotive milestone for us. 21st July is an integral part of Bengal’s public culture today.”
She further remembered the heroic martyrs who died that day and wrote, “We remember those heroic martyrs every year on this historic day with love and respect. Along with them, we also remember all who have sacrificed their lives in movements for our country and fellow human beings.”
She added, “Simultaneously, we observe this day as ‘Ma-Mati-Manush Divas’, and dedicate our democratic electoral victories to the people of West Bengal. There lies another abiding significance of the day.”
Inviting people to the program at Esplanade, she wrote, “Tomorrow, at this Martyrs’ Day program at Esplanade, I invite all of you in Bengal. Like every year, this year too, I trust our congregation will find meaning through your eager participation in the collective homage to the martyrs.” As she expressed in a poem: “21st July is soaked with blood and tears. Tributes galore in remembrance of the martyrs,” she added.