The political atmosphere has become charged following a contentious statement by Abdur Rahim Bakshi, Malda district TMC president and MLA, who threatened to attack a BJP MLA with acid. This warning was accompanied by a threat of social exclusion for the BJP if they were to operate within the local area. The remarks, which also encompassed threats to damage BJP flags and assault MPs, have led to widespread criticism. Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya expressed strong disapproval, raising questions about whether these actions align with democratic principles. The original statement was made during a protest organized by the Block Trinamool Congress in Inayatanagar, Malatipur. The main issues highlighted during the protest were the alleged attacks on Bengalis in other states and the purported disrespect of the Bengali language. Local MLA and district TMC president Abdur Rahim Bakshi attended the event, along with district council members Abdul Hai, Rehena Parveen, and others.
In a public response, Amit Malviya condemned the TMC, emphasizing Bakshi’s threat of violence. He referenced past threats of physical harm against BJP, CPM, and Congress workers. Malviya asserted that violence is a defining characteristic of the TMC’s political strategy. He noted that such threats are especially concerning in Malda-Murshidabad, where Banerjee’s dedicated voter base is comprised of illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya immigrants, raising the question of whether such tactics represent democracy or terror.
Bakshi further inflamed the situation with additional controversial remarks from the stage, making an indirect reference to Siliguri’s BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh. He stated that any BJP MLA who refers to Bengali migrant workers in the assembly as Bangladeshi Rohingyas would face an acid attack. He urged the public to boycott the BJP, claiming that people of Bengali origin are being persecuted in BJP-led states, and those who support the BJP are not protesting. Meanwhile, Uttar Malda BJP MP Khagen Murmu staged a 24-hour sit-in at the Chanchal police station, citing false cases filed against BJP workers and threatened to attack the BJP MP, claiming the program was undemocratic. Despite the controversy, the district president claimed that his statements were not undemocratic during a media interaction.