Dakshin Dinajpur, West Bengal: The political heat in West Bengal escalated on Saturday as Leader of Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, launched a scathing attack on the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC), alleging that the party has been aiding Rohingya infiltrators to settle in Bengal using fake documents. Speaking at the ‘Bijoy Sankalp’ rally in Gangarampur, Dakshin Dinajpur, Adhikari warned that the state’s demography could change drastically if the TMC continues in power after the next assembly elections.
Adhikari emphasized that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is not opposed to Indian Muslims, clarifying, “We are against Rohingya infiltrators who will be detected, their names deleted, and finally deported once the BJP comes to power.” His remarks underline the BJP’s strategy of distinguishing between Indian citizens and foreign nationals, particularly in the context of illegal immigration.
Claims Against TMC and Demographic Concerns
Addressing criticisms by TMC, Congress, and Left parties that the BJP is anti-Muslim, Adhikari said, “I had never said we don’t need Muslim votes. Instead, I had wondered why we are not getting their votes. I think they are being used by TMC for vote-bank politics.”
He argued that under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP has launched social welfare programs benefiting every section of society, including Indian Muslims, and insisted, “BJP is not against Indian Muslims.”
Adhikari further warned about a declining Hindu population in the state during TMC’s tenure, claiming that the proportion of Hindus has dropped from 85 percent to 65 percent in projections for the 2027 census. He drew a parallel with the persecution faced by Hindus in Bangladesh, expressing concerns that a similar fate could befall Hindus in Bengal if demographic changes continue unchecked.
Comments on Safety of Women in Bengal
The opposition leader also turned his attention to issues of women’s safety, citing recent incidents, including the rape of a medical student in Durgapur and alleged harassment of female medical staff across several districts. He remarked, “It is shameful that women are not safe under the rule of a woman chief minister, and people from Bengal are hanging their heads in shame.”
Adhikari cited multiple instances, including cases in Kamduni, R G Kar Hospital, and Durgapur, alleging that rapists have become desperate and emboldened due to the TMC’s governance failures. His comments indicate a broader campaign strategy linking law-and-order concerns to calls for political change in the state.
Call for Political Change
Joining Adhikari, Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar echoed the call for removing the TMC government, stating, “The Mamata Banerjee government must be uprooted to save West Bengal from the mess.” This aligns with the BJP’s push ahead of the upcoming assembly elections, focusing on illegal immigration, demographic shifts, and law-and-order issues as key campaign themes.
Political Context
West Bengal has been a high-stakes battleground in recent years, with the BJP making significant inroads in areas traditionally dominated by the TMC. Allegations of Rohingya infiltration have surfaced repeatedly in BJP rhetoric, particularly in the border districts, and are being used to highlight perceived lapses in governance and security by the TMC.
By framing the narrative around illegal immigration and demographic changes, Adhikari and the BJP aim to consolidate Hindu votes while assuring Indian Muslims of their inclusion in government welfare schemes. The opposition’s focus on women’s safety and law-and-order failures further seeks to portray the TMC administration as ineffective in governance.
Implications for Bengal Elections
As the state gears up for the next assembly elections, these statements by Suvendu Adhikari signal a two-pronged campaign strategy by the BJP:
- Targeting TMC on security and illegal immigration – highlighting alleged assistance to Rohingya infiltrators and raising concerns about changing demographics.
- Highlighting governance failures – emphasizing law-and-order lapses, particularly incidents affecting women, to question the TMC’s administrative competence.
With election season approaching, the BJP appears poised to use these narratives to strengthen its foothold in West Bengal, appealing to voters concerned about security, demography, and law and order.
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