Kolkata, July 21 (Reporter) Ahead of his open address, West Bengal ruling TMC's second-in-command Abhishek Banerjee today said the "21st July (Shahid Divas) is not just a date, it’s a defiance etched in time." "We remember that bullets may kill bodies, but not beliefs. The spirit of Bengal cannot be crushed by tyranny," Banerjee, the national general secretary of Trinamool Congress, said in a message. He recalled how in 1993, 13 brave hearts were martyred -- not for power, but for the principle of democracy. "Their courage ignited a movement that shaped the destiny of our state and nation," he said. "Today, we renew that pledge to protect every inch of our democracy and motherland and to confront hatred with unity; to stand unyielding against those who dream of dismantling our Constitution," Abshishek Banerjee said. "To those who dare test Bengal’s resolve, know this memory is the party's armour", he continued. "Resistance is our legacy. We do not retreat. We do not surrender," he concluded. In a separate statement, the TMC said democracy was never gifted to them and it was earned as in Bengal, it was paid for in blood. "On Shahid Dibas, we remember 13 young lives that were gunned down for demanding the right to vote freely and fearlessly. The bullets were meant to scare a generation. Instead, they gave birth to a revolution," the TMC said. The party is expected to spell out its line of work to go ahead for the 2026 assembly polls, scheduled for early first quarter of New Year. "Today, as Bengal stands tall, attempts are being made once again, by today’s zamindars to silence voices, destroy institutions, and reduce democracy to a performance. But the spirit of 21st July lives on. We carry it forward with pride and purpose. We resist. We rebuilt. We remember for every drop of blood shed that day, Bengal speaks louder today, the ruling party said...////...