Synopsis
Amit Malviya cautions that Mamata Banerjee's increasing empowerment of Firhad Hakim, Kolkata's Mayor, poses a significant threat to her leadership, potentially leading to ideological challenges and the Islamization of Bengal.Key Takeaways
- Mamata Banerjee risks her leadership by empowering Firhad Hakim.
- Hakim’s statements raise concerns about the Islamization of Bengal.
- Historical significance of the Mayor's position is undermined.
- Bengali Hindus face displacement likened to Kashmiri Pandits.
- Malviya highlights the erosion of Kolkata's refined culture.
Kolkata, April 14 (NationPress) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is making a grave error by further strengthening a figure like Firhad Hakim, the state municipal affairs & urban development minister and Kolkata Mayor, as he could potentially undermine her authority, warned Amit Malviya, the chief of the BJP's Information Technology Cell and the party’s central observer for West Bengal, on Monday.
“Should Mamata Banerjee maintain her silence, she risks bolstering an individual whose ideological goals may ultimately contest her leadership and accelerate a deeper trend toward the Islamization of Bengal,” Malviya stated in a post shared on his official X account.
Malviya elaborated on his concerns, referencing a recent comment by Hakim claiming that “everything is alright in West Bengal” in response to the recent turmoil in Murshidabad district, where protests against the newly enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act escalated into violence last week.
“This is the same individual who referred to a section of Kolkata as 'mini Pakistan' and has previously made inflammatory remarks advocating for religious conversion to Islam. He has publicly endorsed initiatives like Dawat-E-Islam and described non-Muslims as ‘unfortunate’. Furthermore, he has envisioned a nation governed solely by Islamic law and jurisprudence,” Malviya noted in his statement.
He remarked that it is a “travesty” for Hakim to hold the position of Kolkata Mayor, a role historically occupied by revered figures such as Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das and Subhash Chandra Bose.
“His rise is emblematic of the diminishing refined 'bhadralok' culture that Kolkata once epitomized,” Malviya added.
He expressed astonishment that Hakim had indirectly “justified and expressed satisfaction” regarding the displacement of Hindus from Murshidabad.
“Bengali Hindus are being reduced to refugees in their own land, akin to the plight of Kashmiri Pandits, who were forced to flee Kashmir to escape religious persecution and seek sanctuary in Jammu and other parts of India,” he stated.
