Within the Trinamool Congress (TMC) circles in West Bengal, City Improvement Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim is understood to be some of the trusted lieutenants of get together supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Nonetheless, the TMC has distanced itself from Hakim’s latest “Muslim majority” comment and castigated him. On Mamata’s directions, he has additionally been requested to keep away from official programmes for some days, get together sources stated.
A TMC chief stated Mamata has disapproved of Hakim’s controversial comment.
The row comes as a setback to the 65-year-old four-time MLA, who has been rising up the TMC ladder during the last a number of years.
What’s the new row?
On December 14, a video went viral on social media during which Hakim is heard purportedly saying, “We’re from a group that accounts for 33 per cent of West Bengal’s inhabitants. In India, nonetheless, we account for 17 per cent (of the full inhabitants) and are referred to as a minority group. However we don’t 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 sooner or later.”
Hakim additionally purportedly stated, “It will likely be Allah’s grace and we are going to obtain this with our energy. At any time when one thing occurs, our group holds a candlelight march, saying, ‘we would like justice’. Holding marches for justice gained’t assist, elevate your stature to the purpose the place you possibly can ship justice as a substitute of demanding it.”
He was talking at an occasion organised by “Firhad 30” that prepares college students for aggressive exams.
Hitting out at Hakim, the principal Opposition BJP referred to as his remarks “harmful” and accused him of allegedly inciting communal hatred. The Congress additionally alleged that the TMC was “cosying as much as spiritual fundamentalists”.
Union minister and state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar stated on X: “Pure venom from the Kolkata Mayor. TMC’s Firhad Hakim is brazenly inciting communal hatred and pushing a harmful agenda. This isn’t only a hate speech — it’s a blueprint for making a Bangladesh-type state of affairs in India… Our nation is not going to tolerate such threats to its unity and integrity.”
Pure venom from the Kolkata Mayor, TMC’s Firhad Hakim brazenly inciting communal hatred and pushing a harmful agenda.
This isn’t simply hate speech — it’s 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
The TMC additionally condemned Hakim’s comment, saying his views did “not mirror the get together’s place or ideology”.
“Our dedication to peace, unity, and communal concord stays unwavering. Any remarks that threaten the social cloth of Bengal shall be met with strict measures,” the get together stated.
Amid the rising controversy, Hakim reportedly stated, “I’m a diehard secular and patriotic Indian. Nobody can query my secular values and love for my nation.”
Rise of Hakim
Till 2009, Hakim was a councillor within the Kolkata Municipal Company (KMC), who was primarily concerned in native politics. That 12 months, he turned the TMC’s shock decide for the bypoll within the Kolkata’s high-profile Alipore constituency that was necessitated after sitting MLA Tapas Paul received elected as an MP. Hakim gained the seat with a margin of over 27,000 votes.
He once more turned an MLA in 2011, this time from the Kolkata Port constituency. His political development coincided with that of Mamata’s rise.
After bringing an finish to the CPM-led Left’s 34-year rule in Bengal within the 2011 Meeting polls, Mamata took over because the CM and inducted Hakim because the City Improvement and Municipal Affairs minister. Hakim nonetheless holds each these portfolios, whilst different ministers have been shuffled round. He’s broadly thought-about to be some of the necessary Muslim leaders of the TMC within the state. Nonetheless, Hakim has additionally been surrounded by varied controversies since 2011.
Previous controversies
A sting operation was performed by a journalist Mathew Samuel for over two years in Bengal, which was carried by an internet site Narada Information forward of the 2016 state Meeting elections.
As a part of his sting operation, Samuel shaped a fictitious firm named Impex Consultancy Options and approached a number of TMC ministers, MPs and leaders, asking them for favours in return for cash.
Within the 52-hour footage filmed by Samuel and his colleague Angel Abraham, then TMC MPs — Mukul Roy, Sougata Roy, Kakoli Ghosh Dastidar, Prasun Bannerjee, Suvendu Adhikari, Aparupa Poddar and Sultan Ahmad (he died in 2017) — after which state ministers — Madan Mitra, Subrata Mukherjee, Firhad Hakim and Iqbal Ahmed — had been seen purportedly accepting alleged bribes within the type of money in change for extending unofficial favours for Impex Consultancy Options.
Hakim, amongst others, was questioned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) over this scandal and was subsequently arrested. The Calcutta Excessive Court docket granted bail to them days later.
Just a few months in the past, talking at an All India Quran Competitors in Kolkata, Hakim purportedly stated these “not born in Islam are unlucky” and that the faith needs to be “unfold amongst non-Muslims”. He drew flak from varied quarters over this assertion too. The BJP created an uproar within the Meeting over it and demanded Hakim’s resignation. Later, Hakim claimed that his remarks had been misinterpreted and that it was not his intention to harm anybody.
Through the Haroa bypoll in November this 12 months, Hakim sparked controversy once more along with his alleged derogatory comment towards BJP chief Rekha Patra. Patra, who had misplaced the Lok Sabha ballot earlier this 12 months from Basirhat, condemned Hakim and demanded authorized motion towards him.
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