Kolkata, July 18, 2024 – A political storm has erupted in West Bengal following a controversial statement by Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, at the BJP State Executive meeting. Adhikari’s rejection of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s slogan, ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’, has sparked widespread backlash and intense political debate.
Adhikari’s Controversial Remarks
During the meeting, Adhikari called for an end to the slogan and questioned the necessity of a minority cell. “I had spoken about nationalist Muslims, and you too had said ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’. But I will not say this anymore. Instead, we will now say, ‘Jo Hamare Saath, Hum Unke Saath’. Stop this ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas’. No need for a minority cell,” Adhikari declared at a packed auditorium, triggering a political uproar.
Damage Control and Clarifications
In response to the backlash, Adhikari clarified that his comments were political in nature and not intended to challenge the Prime Minister’s phrase or the Centre’s development work. He emphasized that his remarks were aimed at highlighting the voting patterns among Muslims in recent elections. “Muslims did not vote for BJP. 91 out of 100 Muslims voted for Mamata Banerjee and this time 95% Muslims voted for her. This is my statement from a political angle; it has nothing to do with Centre’s developmental work or our popular leader Modi’s phrase. Don’t mix the NDA and the PM’s slogan with what I said,” he told the media.
Adhikari later took to X to issue a statement, asserting that his remarks were taken out of context. He reiterated his commitment to Prime Minister Modi’s inclusive governance slogan, ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas’.
BJP Leaders and Analysts Weigh In
Former Bengal BJP president Rahul Sinha sought to downplay the controversy, stating that individual thoughts do not determine the party’s ideology. “Individual thoughts don’t decide the BJP’s ideology. The phrase was coined by the PM and if the party feels it needs to change the philosophy that tells us how to function, it will be decided in Delhi,” Sinha said.
Political analyst Snigdhendu Bhattacharya suggested that Adhikari’s statement was intended to consolidate Bengali Hindu voters. “BJP made no attempts to get Muslim votes in 2019 or 2021. After they saw in 2021 that sharp pro-TMC consolidation of Muslim votes helped increase the TMC’s vote and seat share. Bengal BJP tried to tone down on the anti-Muslim rhetoric to prevent pro-TMC Muslim consolidation. It did not work. Except for Malda Uttar and Raiganj, Muslims showed no signs of changing allegiance,” Bhattacharya said.
Udayan Bandopadhyay, another political analyst, warned of the potential ramifications of Adhikari’s comments in a state where minorities make up nearly 30 percent of the population. “Almost one-third of the population in Bengal is composed of the minorities. So, if this dictum goes with BJP, it will have to struggle to polarise the remaining two-thirds. That’s also an impossible proposition. BJP is not in power. The Union government cannot make laws only for the Hindus,” Bandopadhyay stated.
Opposition Reaction
TMC spokesperson Riju Dutta criticized Adhikari’s comments on X, suggesting that Adhikari’s stature within the BJP was overshadowing that of Prime Minister Modi. “BJP is a party only for the Hindus and there is no place for Muslims in it. This is Unconstitutional & Anti National!” Dutta posted.
Conclusion
The BJP State Executive meeting, which aimed to introspect on the recent Lok Sabha poll defeat and chart a roadmap for the 2026 State polls, has instead highlighted the internal divisions and challenges facing the party in West Bengal. As the political storm continues to rage, the BJP will need to navigate these turbulent waters carefully to maintain unity and focus on the upcoming electoral battles.
For continuous updates on this developing story, stay tuned to Sarhind Times.
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