A remark by former Trinamool Congress MLA Humayun Kabir, suggesting that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had provoked his hate speech in 2024, has triggered a political storm. The comment prompted a sharp attack from the Opposition BJP, which accused the ruling party of encouraging divisive rhetoric.
BJP West Bengal president Samik Bhattacharya accused the Jan Unnayan Party (JUP) chief of engaging in divisive politics, terming it the 'Plan B' of the TMC.
"This is the plan B of Trinamool Congress. Humayun is TMC, and TMC is Humayun. Mamata Banerjee bows down to the radicals. He wants to divide society along religious lines and then hold elections," he said.
Another BJP leader, Amit Malviya, also took aim at the former TMC MLA over his claim that he had delivered the hate speech at the chief minister’s direction.
“This is the same Humayun Kabir who, in 2024, openly threatened to throw Hindus into the Bhagirathi River. Let that sink in. Hate speech. Threats. And now a claim that it was politically encouraged,” Malviya wrote on X.
Addressing a rally at Rezinagar in Murshidabad district on Saturday, Kabir said he would contest the upcoming Assembly elections against both the ruling TMC and the BJP. He also called upon “every secular, pro-people” party to join hands with the JUP.
Kabir apologised for his remarks against Hindus in 2024, alleging that he was compelled to deliver the speech at Mamata Banerjee’s direction to ensure Yusuf Pathan’s victory in the Lok Sabha polls.
“I am sorry. Acting on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s words, I hurt the sentiments of my Hindu brothers. I sincerely apologise for that statement. Humayun Kabir will never say anything like this intentionally,” he said.
“I apologise for the statements made on May 1, 2024. Many Hindus believe that I hate them, but at the age of 63, with 42 years of political experience, I have never done anything of that sort,” he added.