TMC MLA claims Hindus voted for BJP, calls for energy for Muslim leaders

On Monday (June 26), Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir courted controversy for demanding the alternative of fellow TMC members from the celebration committee in Murshidabad with ‘Muslim leaders’.

Kabir had been aghast with the TMC excessive command for giving ‘pure unadulterated power’ to celebration members corresponding to Shaoni Sinha Roy and Apurba Sarkar and their members of the family.

While chatting with Murshidabad Today, he remarked, “Why should two members of the same house get powerful positions in the party? Are others unworthy? Is the top leadership blind? Murshidabad district has a 70% Muslim population. Will this community not receive importance from Mamata Banerjee?”

Humayan Kabir made it clear to the TMC excessive command that if ‘Muslim leaders’ aren’t given cost of Murshidabad, then the group will transfer away from the celebration.

He mentioned, “In 2021, 90 out of every 100 Muslims voted for the Trinamool Congress. This is why the party has 20 legislators from the district. On the other hand, Hindus voted en masse for the BJP and made the saffron party strong.”

The TMC chief cautioned, “It cannot happen that those who gave power to Mamata Banerjee will now tolerate betrayal from her…And we are expected not to speak a word about it. I will not tolerate this.”

“Shaoni Sinha Roy should be removed and replaced with a competent Muslim leader…You cannot take the people of Murshidabad for a toss. Give us their due…They gave you their full support in 2021. So, Mamata Banerjee now must fulfil their aspirations,” he said.

Infighting in TMC over native management in Murshidabad

During the interview, Humayan Kabir knowledgeable that the native Trinamool Congress management in Murshidabad district had not been functioning correctly for the previous 22 months. Kabir lamented that though Abhishek Banerjee requested TMC leaders to cooperate with the elected representatives within the State, it didn’t materialise in his district.

“A district committee was formed by Shaoni Sinha Roy (TMC leader), but it did not get the approval of the party high command to date…He did not consult us before making such a committee. On what basis did he induct idiots with no experience at even booth-level politics? What were the criteria?” he inquired.

“We have been betrayed and shamed…So I demand the resignation of Shaoni Sinha Roy from the position of the President and Apurba Sarkar (another TMC leader) from the position of Chairman of the committee,” Kabir emphasised.

The TMC MLA lambasted the celebration’s excessive command for not trying previous Roy and Sarkar. “Why is the power concentrated in the hands of these two and their family members? Are there no competent leaders in Murshidabad district,” he was heard saying.

Humayun Kabir sought the fast intervention of Mamata Banerjee and her nephew Abhishek Banerjee into the matter. “Is this a joke that members of one family will rule over Murshidabad? What will others do then?” he requested.

Will break your bones: Humayun Kabir to TMC chief

In July 2021, Kabir courted controversy after he threatened fellow celebration legislator Rabiul Alam Chowdhury with bodily hurt. He had issued the threats throughout a celebration assembly at Shaktipur within the Rezinagar Vidhan Sabha constituency of West Bengal.

While addressing the celebration employees, Kabir warned, “Akhankar jini nirbachito vidhyak, amar songe panga nite ela, tomar hadgor sob ek jaigai kore debo (If the elected representative of the area tries to pick up a fight with me, then, I will break his bones).”

He additional instructed Chowdhury to deal with the TMC employees with respect, else he would completely cease his entry to Shaktipur. Responding to the threats, Chowdhury mentioned that he didn’t wish to encourage the confrontation additional by commenting on the matter.

However, he added, “A dog might bite a man but he wouldn’t bite the dog (referring to Humayun Kabir). I only work according to the instructions given to me by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.”

ABP Ananda reported that the feud between the 2 dates again to 2012 when Chowdhury defeated Kabir in by-elections. Again in 2016, Kabir misplaced out to Chowdhury as an unbiased candidate throughout the elections.