Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim found himself at the centre of a political storm after a video went viral recently in which he is heard saying that “We will soon be majority”. Opposition BJP has objected to his remarks and accused him of inciting communal hatred.
“Pure venom from the Kolkata Mayor, TMC’s Firhad Hakim openly inciting communal hatred and pushing a dangerous agenda. This isn’t just hate speech – it’s a blueprint for creating a Bangladesh-type situation in India.
“Why is the INDI Alliance silent? I challenge them to voice their opinion on this. @MamataOfficial, your hypocrisy and anti-India mindset stands exposed. Is this the future you envision?? Every Bharatwasi must condemn this mindset! Our nation will not tolerate such threats to its unity and integrity,” posted Sukanta Majumdar, Bengal BJP president and Union MoS, on his X handle.
A four-time MLA, Firhad Hakim is the mayor of Kolkata and Bengal minister for urban development, municipal affairs and housing. In the video, he is heard saying, “We are from a community that accounts for 33 per cent of Bengal’s population. In India, however, we account for 17 per cent (of the population) and are called a minority community. But we don’t think of ourselves as a minority…” Hakim made this statement at an event organised under the ‘Firhad 30’ initiative to train students for competitive exams.
Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari termed Hakim’s statement “dangerous”.
“He (Hakim) has said they will be majority… It is a good thing to have more people from the Muslim community in the judiciary. What is wrong if someone is selected on the basis of merit? I believe in the principle of merit, whether you are Sikh, Hindu, Muslim, Jain, Christian, or follow Buddhism – everyone should break norms and achieve great things and get higher posts. But it should not be on the basis of religion. He can definitely wish that more Muslim people get a good education and be part of the judiciary, I don’t see anything wrong with that. But it is dangerous to say that in India we are 17 per cent and in Bengal we are 33 per cent…” Adhikari said.
Fellow Trinamool Congress leader Humayun Kabir also criticised Hakim for his statement. He said, “It is foolish on anyone’s part to say something like that… My advice (to him) is to think before speaking.”
Later, defending his statement, Hakim said, “I am an Indian and I will die as an Indian, I am a secular person. That’s it.”