The West Bengal government is considering convening a special session of the state assembly in August to counter what it calls “systematic attacks” on the Bengali language and the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in BJP-ruled states, a senior official from the assembly secretariat said.

Sources from the state’s parliamentary affairs department said the special session, tentatively scheduled between 8 and 21 August, will table a resolution condemning the targeting of Bengali speakers—many of whom are labelled “Bangladeshi” for simply speaking the language. The session may also introduce four legislative bills currently under review with the state law department. While discussions have already taken place between the Trinamul Congress (TMC) legislative party and the parliamentary affairs department, no final decision has yet been taken, a TMC MLA said on condition of anonymity. The proposed session comes in the wake of strong statements by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee during the party’s annual 21 July rally. Both leaders vowed to confront the BJP on its alleged attempts to undermine the Bengali language and identity—both in Parliament and through state initiatives. “We will hit back,” Mamata Banerjee said, accusing the BJP of inciting cultural marginalisation in states where many Bengali-speaking workers reside. According to party insiders, the proposed session will also serve as a platform for the state to take an aggressive legislative stance against such incidents, complementing TMC’s protests planned at the national level. The Monsoon Session of Parliament began on Monday in New Delhi, where TMC MPs are expected to raise the issue both inside the Houses and through a sit-in near the Gandhi statue on Parliament premises. This is not the first time the West Bengal Assembly has been convened for a special session. In August last year, it met to pass the “Aparajita Bill” in the wake of the alleged rape and murder of a female medical intern at RG Kar Hospital. Meanwhile, opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP has dismissed Mamata Banerjee’s claims. “Who gave her the right to speak on behalf of the Bengali language?” he said on Tuesday, ahead of his departure to Delhi. Adhikari cited examples of prominent Bengali figures holding key positions under the Modi government, including late economist Bibek Debroy, current economic adviser Sanjeev Sanyal, and Haryana Governor Asim Ghosh, to reject allegations of bias. Tensions between the TMC and BJP are expected to intensify as Mamata Banerjee has called for weekly protests in support of the Bengali language and against the alleged marginalisation of Bengali-speaking communities in BJP-ruled regions, starting 27 July with the annual “Nanur Day” observance.