Bengal Minister takes ‘secular’ vow after saying Muslims will become majority

The remarks of Mr. Firhad Hakim evoked strong reactions not only from Opposition parties but also from leaders of the Trinamool Congress. “I am a secular person and will die as a secular person,” he said.

Under fire for his remarks that Muslims will become the majority, West Bengal Minister Firhad Hakim said on Sunday (December 15, 2024) that he is a secular person and will remain so till death.

“I am a secular person and will die as a secular person,” Mr. Hakim, who is also the Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation, told journalists.

The Trinamool Congress leader’s statement comes after a video, in which he is heard saying that he does not consider Muslims as minority and by the grace of Allah Muslims will become majority, triggered a controversy. Mr. Hakim’s remarks evoked strong reactions from not only Opposition parties but also from leaders of the Trinamool Congress.

Senior party leader Kunal Ghosh came in defence of the party colleague and said Opposition leaders “misinterpreted and twisted”his remarks. Mr. Ghosh said Mr. Hakim was speaking about uplift of Muslims so that they could join the mainstream of society.

Two Muslim leaders of the Trinamool Congress criticised Mr. Hakim. Former IPS officer and Debra MLA Humayun Kabir said that “quality should be given importance over quantity”. “Instead of having five children to become rickshaw pullers, van drivers, vegetable sellers, pushers, migrant workers, hawkers, it is better to have two children as teachers and doctors. Wouldn’t it be better to be a police officer like me?” he said.

‘Stupid to comment on such matters’

Another Trinamool Congress leader going by the same name and MLA from Bharatpur Humayun Kabir said that Mr. Hakim should read “Quran and Hadish”. “Which community will be a majority and which will be a minority depends on the will of Allah and it is stupid of either of Firhad Hakim and Humayun Kabir to comment on such matters,” the Bharatpur MLA said.

Mr. Hakim, the Minister for Municipal Affairs and Urban Development, purportedly made the controversial remark while addressing minority students at an event on Friday (December 13, 2024). “We come from such a community, that in West Bengal we are 33%, and across the country, we are only 17%, and we are called a minority community in India. But we do consider ourselves as a minority. But in the coming days, we will no longer remain a minority. We believe that if Allah has grace on us and education is with us then we will become the majority,” he is heard saying in a video of the address.

While BJP leadership accused the Minister of making communal statements with divisive agenda, senior monk of Bharat Sevashram Sangha (BSS) Kartik Maharaj said that instead of laying emphasis on education and economic uplift of Muslims, Mr. Hakim spoke about increasing their numbers, “which will aid and abet infiltration in the state”.

‘Polarisation bid’

Mr. Hakim’s controversial remarks have come at a time when Hindutva groups are organising protests in the State over reports of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh. Several monks and Hindutva groups organised a Bhagwad Gita recitation ceremony at Siliguri in north Bengal.

Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that Mr. Hakim’s remarks suitedthe attempt at polarisation which the Trinamool and the BJP have been trying to create in the State as a part of a “setting” between the two parties.

“The Trinamool will polarise Muslim votes and BJP Hindu votes, and the political status quo will continue in West Bengal,” the Congress leader said. CPI(M) state secretary Md. Salim said that Mr. Firhad Hakim’s remarks were an attempt at creating “majoritarianism”.

Published - December 15, 2024 10:14 pm IST