A major political controversy has erupted in West Bengal after Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, made incendiary remarks calling for Bangladesh to be taught a lesson similar to Israel's actions in Gaza. The comments were made during a protest in Kolkata on Saturday, December 28, 2024, and have drawn severe condemnation from rival political parties.
Protest and Provocative Statement
Adhikari, a senior BJP leader, led a march to the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata. The demonstration was organized to protest the recent killings of two Hindu men, identified as Dipu Das and Amrit Mondal, in the neighbouring country. It was during this event that Adhikari delivered his contentious speech.
He stated, "A lesson should be taught. Like Israel taught in Gaza. In that manner. Our country's 100 crore Hindus; the government is being run in the interest of Hindus. A lesson should be taught. Like we taught Pakistan during Operation Sindoor." The reference to Operation Sindoor is believed to be a colloquial allusion to a past military action.
Swift and Sharp Political Backlash
The remarks triggered an immediate and fierce backlash from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Congress party. The TMC launched a scathing attack on the BJP and Adhikari through social media platform X.
The party's post accused the BJP of perfecting "hate and intolerance into an art form," labeling Adhikari a "venomous loudmouth" who had bared his "fascist fangs." The TMC characterized his statement as "genocidal bile," "naked hate speech," and a "bloodthirsty call for mass murder and ethnic cleansing." The party pointedly noted the absence of legal consequences, asking why there was "No FIR. No arrest. No prosecution. No UAPA slapped on this Hitler-in-the-making."
Echoing this sentiment, senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal also highlighted the lack of legal action against Adhikari, repeating the phrase "no FIR, no arrest, no prosecution, no UAPA." TMC MP Sagarika Ghose criticized the statement as a "dog whistle" suggesting the Narendra Modi government is for Hindus only, calling it the "dirty politics of divide and rule."
Context and Unanswered Questions
The incident underscores the highly charged political atmosphere in West Bengal and the sensitive nature of cross-border relations. Adhikari's comments, invoking the Israel-Gaza conflict, have international implications and have moved the discourse beyond domestic politics.
The core of the opposition's criticism now revolves around the perceived inaction by law enforcement agencies. The repeated emphasis by both TMC and Congress on the absence of an FIR or prosecution under laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) places significant pressure on the state and central governments to respond. The development sets the stage for a fresh and intense political battle in the state, with national security and diplomatic decorum at its center.
