Political Tensions Rise in India Amid Attacks on Hindu Minorities in Bangladesh
Tensions between the BJP and TMC have intensified in India following the shooting of a Hindu man in Bangladesh, leading to accusations and counter-accusations regarding the treatment of Bengali Hindus. BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty has vowed to protect West Bengal from becoming 'West Bangladesh,' while TMC has criticized the BJP for exploiting the situation for political gain. The discourse highlights the ongoing struggles faced by the Bengali community amid rising violence and political rhetoric. This article delves into the statements made by both parties and the implications for the region.
| Dec 26, 2025, 19:42 IST
Political Clash Over Minority Attacks
Following the tragic shooting of Sharif Usman Hadi while traveling in a rickshaw on December 12, tensions have escalated between the BJP and TMC in India, particularly concerning the attacks on the Hindu minority community in Bangladesh. A video shared on the official Twitter account of the West Bengal BJP featured party leader Mithun Chakraborty asserting that the BJP will not allow West Bengal to become 'West Bangladesh.' Referring to an alleged police baton charge near the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, Chakraborty emphasized, "This is the state of Bengali Hindus. If it turns into Bangladesh, where will we go?"
Chakraborty declared, “We will not permit TMC to transform West Bengal into West Bangladesh! In response to the brutal murder of a Bengali Hindu in Bangladesh, numerous Bengali Hindus, including women, protested, but the police attacked them! This state belongs to Bengali Hindus. If it becomes Bangladesh, where will we go? We will fight with all our strength! As long as there is blood in my veins, I will not surrender!”
In response to these allegations, TMC highlighted attacks on the Bengali community across various states and accused the BJP of exploiting the situation in Bangladesh to sway public opinion in West Bengal. TMC questioned those shouting 'West Bangladesh,' asking them to address why Bengalis are being beaten and lynched under BJP rule across India. They accused the BJP of using Bangladesh to poison the minds of people in Bengal while their own states allow the bloodshed of Bengalis without consequences. They pointed out that while the BJP spreads fear online, a 22-year-old Bengali laborer, Jewel Rana, was brutally killed in BJP-ruled Odisha.
TMC further questioned the absence of rallies for Jewel Rana. They demanded to know where the outrage was for Bengali laborers being hunted down like criminals in BJP-controlled states. They criticized the police for protecting mobs instead of citizens, stating that the BJP resorts to shouting 'Bangladesh' because they cannot acknowledge the reality in Odisha, Assam, Haryana, and Delhi, where BJP governance has turned Bengali identity into a burden. They vowed to expose the BJP's lies, name their violence, and resist any attempts to label every Bengali as suspicious across the country.