image
TMC leader Firhad Hakim's "mini Pakistan" remark about his constituency sparks row
Kolkata, Apr 30 (IBNS) Trinamool Congress leader Firhad Hakim's remarks to describe his Muslim-dominated assembly constituency Garden Reach as a "mini Pakistan" to a Pakistani journalist has triggered a huge row with the BJP immediately slamming the TMC legislator and minister and taking a dig at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
Pakistan's Dawn covering Bengal elections began a story quoting Hakim where he allegedly describes the Garden Reach area as mini Pakistan.
"'Please come along and let us take you to mini-Pakistan in Kolkata,' says Bobby Firhad Hakim, MLA candidate of the incumbent party in West Bengal, All India Trinamool Congress, which is on its last leg of its canvassing and voters decide the party’s fate in the phase-wise West Bengal assembly elections scheduled to be held on April 30 and May 5," the Dawn story by Maleeha Hamid Siddiqui starts.
While Hakim was quoted in a daily saying tht raising this issue is a "blatant attempt to foment communal tension ahead of the polls", the BJP was quick to seize the issue.
BJP leader and In-charge of BJP's national IT Amit Malviya tweeted: "TMC leader Bobby Hakim thinks that Port area is mini Pakistan....... Mamata didi would be proud."
West Bengal is undergoing its sixth phase of assembly polls Saturday witnessing a contest between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the alliance of Left and Congress while the BJP is the third force in the election scene.
Garden Reach is one of the constituencies going to polls on Saturday.
Top Headlines
-
News
Canada acknowledges domestic funding of Khalistani terror groups in report
September 06, 2025
-
News
Jaishankar to represent India at virtual BRICS Summit convened by Brazil next week
September 06, 2025
-
News
PM Modi to skip general debate at UNGA special session, Jaishankar to represent India
September 06, 2025
-
News
'India, US have a special relationship, nothing to worry about': Trump softens stance on New Delhi; Modi 'reciprocates sentiments'
September 06, 2025
-
News
'I will always be friends with Modi, he is a great PM': Donald Trump as he tones down on India over tariff
September 06, 2025
-
News
Indias Tax Reforms: A bold counterstrike to US tariffs and a big push for Atmanirbhar Bharat
September 05, 2025
-
News
'Change is imminent, embrace the reality': Education sector stares at transformation in age of AI
August 31, 2025
-
News
Global Collaboration Forum, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park ink MoU to support startups ahead of London summit
August 30, 2025
-
News
India Setu curtain raiser showcases AI, healthcare, and conservation as drivers of global collaboration
August 27, 2025
-
News
Astronaut Shubhanshu Shukla meets PM Modi, gifts tri-colour that travelled to space
August 18, 2025