The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that the state is becoming unsafe and is following a path of fundamentalism similar to that of neighbouring Bangladesh. The accusations were made by BJP Minority Morcha president Jamal Siddiqui on Monday, December 22, 2025.
Drawing Parallels with Bangladesh Unrest
Siddiqui's comments came in the wake of violent incidents in Bangladesh. The unrest was triggered by the death of youth leader Sharif Osman Hadi in a Singapore hospital days after he was shot. The subsequent violence saw large-scale arson and attacks on media outlets.
Tragically, a Hindu man was lynched during this turmoil, raising serious concerns about the safety of minority communities in Bangladesh. Siddiqui expressed solidarity with minority Hindus in both Bangladesh and Pakistan, while issuing an appeal to secular and Islamic communities in Bangladesh to stand by them and ensure their security and justice.
Direct Allegations Against Mamata Banerjee
Linking the situation across the border to West Bengal, Siddiqui launched a scathing critique of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "Under Mamata Banerjee's leadership, West Bengal is going down the same path as Bangladesh," he alleged. He warned that if this is allowed to continue, the state will not remain safe.
In a highly charged remark, Siddiqui accused Banerjee of being "no less than an ISIS leader" and claimed the BJP would "liberate" the state from her rule. He asserted that her ideology is fundamentalist and that she promotes it solely to cultivate and use a specific vote bank for political gains.
Political Battle Heats Up Ahead of 2026 Polls
These statements are seen as a clear escalation of the political rhetoric ahead of the crucial 2026 state assembly elections in West Bengal. Siddiqui positioned the upcoming election as a battle for the state's liberation from what he termed as Banerjee's fundamentalist politics.
"We will not let West Bengal become Bangladesh. In the 2026 elections, the people of Bengal will liberate it from Mamata didi," he declared. He contrasted the situation by stating that the Muslim minority in India enjoys complete equality with the Hindu majority, and expressed regret that Bangladesh was "becoming like Syria and other fundamentalist countries."
The BJP's strategy appears to focus on highlighting issues of minority safety and governance in West Bengal by drawing direct comparisons with recent international events, setting the stage for a fiercely contested electoral battle.
