Kolkata:
A comment by Kolkata mayor and senior Trinamool Congress chief Firhad Hakim, wherein he mentioned Muslims might grow to be a “larger 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’re from a neighborhood that accounts for 33 per cent of Bengal’s inhabitants. In India, nevertheless, we account for 17 per cent (of the inhabitants) and are referred to as a minority neighborhood. However we do not consider ourselves as a minority. We consider that if Allah’s grace is with us, we will grow to be an even bigger majority than the bulk in the future,” Mr Hakim is heard saying within the video. NDTV can’t confirm the video’s authenticity.
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… pic.twitter.com/jIhvVrQTAJ
— Dr. Sukanta Majumdar (@DrSukantaBJP) December 14, 2024
“It is going to be Allah’s grace and we are going to obtain this with our energy. At any time when one thing occurs, our neighborhood holds a candlelight march, saying, ‘we would like justice’. Holding marches for justice will not assist, increase your stature to the purpose the place you may ship justice as an alternative of demanding it,” he provides.
Mr Majumdar shared the video and dared the Opposition’s INDIA alliance to answer 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 mentioned. Tagging Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool chief Mamata Banerjee, the state BJP president mentioned, “Your hypocrisy and anti-India mindset stands uncovered. Is that this the longer term you envision? Each Bharatwasi should condemn this mindset! Our nation won’t 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 not depend on peaceable protests or marches however will take justice into their very own hands-potentially hinting at Sharia regulation. This aligns with remarks from TMC’s Chopra MLA, who beforehand cited Islamic scriptures to justify an incident, the place a lady was publicly whipped,” Mr Malviya mentioned.
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.… pic.twitter.com/fjneA8ECIX
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) December 14, 2024
“This case is deeply regarding. Giant 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 stability. On the similar time, Minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury has claimed that every one of South Kolkata is WAQF property. Bengalis might 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 improvement, municipal affairs and housing. He’s a member of the nationwide working committee of Trinamool Congress and probably the most trusted lieutenants of Mamata Banerjee. The celebration’s management is but to answer his remarks.