East Bengal FC supporters used the Durand Cup as a platform to protest against the insult of the Bengali language. They made a huge tifo which read, "Yesterday, we were hanged fighting for India’s freedom. And today, for speaking our mother’s tongue, we become Bangladeshi?"
The tifo was being displayed on the stands following the growing incidents of Bengali-speaking individuals being harassed, detained, or referred to as "Bangladeshi" in other states of the country like Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, and parts of Delhi.
East Bengal ultras shared picture of the Tifo with a message which said, "Our hearts are wounded and torn by the intense anti-Bengali activities happening all around. The honor of our mother tongue lies trampled today. Staying silent would be tantamount to betrayal. So, we are not staying quiet. And why should we? We call upon others as well. Step forward, roar against this injustice."
Bengali language controversy
The message was also addressed to recent controversy over an official letter by Delhi Police that referred to Bengali as the "Bangladeshi national language." The letter, related to an investigation under the Foreigners Act, had requested a Bengali translator for eight detainees suspected of illegally entering India from Bangladesh. The letter was addressed to the officer-in-charge at Banga Bhawan, West Bengal’s official guest house in Delhi.
The letter drew sharp criticism from Bengal Chief Minister Mamta Banerjee. Not only did she shared the screen shot of the letter on her Facebook account but also wrote a message with that.
In her message she said, "See now how Delhi police under the direct control of Ministry of Home, Government of India is describing Bengali as " Bangladeshi" language!"
"Bengali, our mother tongue, the language of Rabindranath Tagore and Swami Vivekananda, the language in which our National Anthem and the National Song (the latter by Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay) are written, the language in which crores of Indians speak and write, the language which is sanctified and recognised by the Constitution of India, is now described as a Bangladeshi language!!"
She added, "Scandalous, insulting, anti-national, unconstitutional!! This insults all Bengali-speaking people of India. They cannot use this kind of language which degrades and debases us all."
"We urge immediate strongest possible protests from all against the anti-Bengali Government of India who are using such anti-Constitutional language to insult and humiliate the Bengali-speaking people of India. See less"
East Bengal FC register hard fought win over Namdhari FC
While the tension over Bengali language insult escalates, East Bengal team ended Namdhari FC's unbeaten run in Group A with a narrow 1-0 win. Moroccan forward Hamid Ahadad, making his debut for the Red and Gold Brigade, came off the bench to score the decisive goal in the 68th minute, handing East Bengal their second consecutive win of the tournament.
