Hindu sentiments outraged as Indian politician hurl derogatory slur against Dalit Hindu community
Kolkata, West Bengal, India 
22 April, 2026
Case Summary
On 23rd April 2026, during an election rally held at Chowringhee in Kolkata, West Bengal, a derogatory slur against the Dalit Hindu community was used by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. During the election rally, CM Mamata Banerjee used a casteist slur, “Ch*mar”, while referring to members of the Scheduled Caste community. The statement was made in the course of a political address in support of a Trinamool Congress candidate, where she was outlining the work undertaken by her government in the Janbazar area. The use of the derogatory term, historically directed at Dalit Hindu communities in a demeaning and discriminatory manner, was captured in a video clip that was subsequently broadcast by a Bengali news channel, triggering outrage and institutional response. On 26th April 2026, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) took suo motu cognisance of the incident after reviewing the video evidence. The Commission described the remarks as “shameful” and emphasised that the use of caste-based slurs constituted a direct insult to the dignity of Scheduled Caste communities. It noted that such conduct attracted penal provisions under Section 3(1)(s) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, which criminalises intentional insult or intimidation with intent to humiliate a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe in any place within public view. Invoking its constitutional authority under Article 338 of the Constitution of India, the Commission initiated an inquiry into the matter. Formal notices were issued by the Commission’s director to the Chief Secretary and the Director General of Police of West Bengal, directing them to submit a detailed report within three days. The notice also warned that failure to comply could result in the Commission exercising powers equivalent to those of a civil court, including summoning officials to appear before it. NCSC Chairman Kishor Makwana underscored that caste-based insults would not be tolerated at any level and reiterated the Commission’s mandate to safeguard the constitutional rights and dignity of Scheduled Castes. He further described the remarks as “unfortunate” and pointed to a concerning rise in incidents of atrocities and violence against Scheduled Castes in the state.
Why it is Hate Crime ?
This case has been added to the Undecided database of the Hinduphobia Tracker as it pertains to a controversy involving Mamata Banerjee, who, during a political rally in Kolkata, used the term “Ch*mar” while addressing a gathering and referring to members of the Scheduled Caste community. The incident drew widespread attention after the National Commission for Scheduled Castes took suo motu cognisance of the remarks, raising concerns about the nature and intent of the language used in a public and political setting. The term “Ch*mar” is widely recognised as a derogatory casteist slur historically directed at Dalit Hindu communities, particularly those associated with leather-working occupations. Over time, it has been used in a demeaning and humiliating manner to insult and marginalise individuals belonging to Scheduled Castes. Its usage in public discourse is considered offensive and carries deeply entrenched social stigma, often reinforcing discrimination and disrespect towards Dalit Hindus while exacerbating divisions within Hindu society. Such caste-based terminology has also been exploited in broader socio-political contexts, where existing caste identities are weaponised to create fractures within Hindu communities. Anti-India and anti-Hindu elements have frequently leveraged caste divisions to weaken social cohesion, amplify internal fault lines, and portray Hindu society as inherently divided and oppressive. The repeated invocation of derogatory caste labels contributes to this narrative by reinforcing stereotypes and fuelling discord, thereby undermining unity within the community. In this instance, Mamata Banerjee did use the term in question, which prompted the National Commission for Scheduled Castes to take cognisance and initiate inquiry proceedings. However, as of now, there is no definitive confirmation regarding whether the usage stemmed from religious animosity or was employed as a part of colloquial or contextual speech. During her address, she essentially said Chammar bhai behen while explaining the developmental work undertaken by her government, which could indicate that the term was used in the context of referring to or addressing the Dalit community rather than with explicit intent to insult. Given the ambiguity surrounding intent, context, and interpretation of the statement, and in the absence of conclusive evidence establishing a clear motive of targeted religious hostility, the case does not definitively meet the threshold of a hate crime. Therefore, this is the reason this case has been added to the Undecided database.
Case Status
Complaint filed
Perpetrators Details
Perpetrators
State and Establishment
Perpetrators Range
One Person
Perpetrators Gender
female
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