Political Tensions Rise Over Jammu and Kashmir Travel Advisory

Following an invitation from Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah for residents of West Bengal to visit the region, a significant political stir has emerged. Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal and a BJP member, made a controversial statement asserting that no Bengali should travel to Kashmir. He emphasized that this advice is based on party principles, urging individuals to avoid areas with a Muslim majority. Instead, he suggested visiting Jammu.

Adhikari further recommended that people explore Himachal Pradesh, which he referred to as a 'land of gods', as well as Uttarakhand and Odisha. He cautioned the people of Bengal to steer clear of Muslim-dominated regions, prioritizing their safety and the protection of their families. His remarks have drawn sharp criticism from the ruling Trinamool Congress, which labeled his comments as a 'shameful and calculated communal provocation.'

In a post on the social media platform X, the Trinamool Congress accused the BJP of playing into the hands of the terrorists responsible for the Pahalgam attack. They condemned Adhikari's remarks as a deliberate communal incitement. The party also referenced recent statements from BJP leaders advocating for the removal of the term 'secular' from the preamble of the Indian Constitution. The post concluded with a strong message: 'This is the same BJP that seeks to erase 'secular' from our Constitution. Such statements have no place in a democratic nation. We will not allow the BJP to widen the divide among Indians, neither in Kashmir, Bengal, nor anywhere else.'