Bengal Minister Says Muslims Can Be Bigger Than Majority, BJP Responds

Bengal Minister Says Muslims Can Be Bigger Than Majority, BJP Responds


Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim made the controversial remarks at an academic convention

A comment by Kolkata mayor and senior Trinamool Congress chief Firhad Hakim, by which he stated Muslims might change into a “greater majority than the bulk”, has sparked an enormous row. West Bengal BJP chief and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar has described Mr Hakim’s remarks as “pure venom” and accused him of “brazenly inciting communal hatred and pushing a harmful agenda”.

In a video that has now gone viral, Mr Hakim is heard making the controversial at an schooling occasion beneath the Firhad 30 initiative to coach college students for aggressive exams.

“We are from a neighborhood that accounts for 33 per cent of Bengal’s inhabitants. In India, nonetheless, we account for 17 per cent (of the inhabitants) and are known as a minority neighborhood. But we do not consider ourselves as a minority. We consider that if Allah’s grace is with us, we will change into a much bigger majority than the bulk at some point,” Mr Hakim is heard saying within the video. NDTV can not confirm the video’s authenticity.

“It will probably be Allah’s grace and we are going to obtain this with our energy. Whenever one thing occurs, our neighborhood holds a candlelight march, saying, ‘we wish justice’. Holding marches for justice will not assist, elevate your stature to the purpose the place you’ll be able to ship justice as an alternative of demanding it,” he provides.

Mr Majumdar shared the video and dared the Opposition’s INDIA alliance to reply to the remarks.

“Pure venom from the Kolkata Mayor, TMC’s Firhad Hakim brazenly inciting communal hatred and pushing a harmful agenda. This is not simply hate speech – it is a blueprint for making a Bangladesh-type state of affairs in India. Why is the INDI Alliance silent? I problem them to voice their opinion on this,” he stated. Tagging Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, the state BJP president stated, “Your hypocrisy and anti-India mindset stands uncovered. Is this the long run you envision? Every Bharatwasi should condemn this mindset! Our nation is not going to tolerate such threats to its unity and integrity.”

The remarks additionally drew a pointy response from Amit Malviya, BJP’s IT in-charge and co-incharge of celebration affairs in Bengal.

“Kolkata’s Mayor, Firhad Hakim, beforehand revealed his true intentions by describing non-Muslims as ‘unlucky’ and endorsing Dawat-e-Islam’s efforts to transform Hindus to Islam. He has now claimed that West Bengal, together with the remainder of India, will quickly have a Muslim majority.

“Hakim envisions a future the place Muslims will now not depend on peaceable protests or marches however will take justice into their very own hands-potentially hinting at Sharia legislation. This aligns with remarks from TMC’s Chopra MLA, who beforehand cited Islamic scriptures to justify an incident, the place a girl was publicly whipped,” Mr Malviya stated.

“This state of affairs is deeply regarding. Large elements of Kolkata, particularly slum areas, are more and more dominated by unlawful infiltrators, together with Rohingyas. Hakim’s feedback appear to encourage the inflow of extra unlawful migrants, additional destabilizing the demographic steadiness. At the identical time, Minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury has claimed that every one of South Kolkata is WAQF property. Bengalis could quickly face the problem of resisting Islamic radicalism inside their very own state,” he added.

A four-time MLA, Mr Hakim is the mayor of Kolkata and Bengal’s minister for city growth, municipal affairs and housing. He is a member of the nationwide working committee of Trinamool Congress and one of the vital trusted lieutenants of Mamata Banerjee. The celebration’s management is but to reply to his remarks.