India, Aug. 15 -- India wouldn't have won freedom from the British without the contribution of Bengal's freedom fighters, writers and social reformers, chief minister Mamata Banerjee said on Thursday on the eve of Independence Day.

"Our freedom wouldn't have come without Bengal. This is part of history. 70% of inmates at Andaman's Cellular Jail were Bengalis. Punjabis comprised the next largest number. A replica of the jail's plaque bearing all those names is kept at our Alipore Correctional Home (in Kolkata). Please go and see it," Banerjee said during the 12th anniversary celebration of the Kanyashree Prakalpa, her welfare scheme for girl students.

The Trinamool Congress chairperson referred to the alleged harassment of Bengali-speaki...