TMC slams Humayun Kabir, BJP on ‘Sanhati Dibas’; Mamata Banerjee vows fight against communalism

She said the battle against communal forces that spread hatred will continue and asserted that her government is committed to protecting and strengthening the ideals and principles of the country’s Constitution.

“Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Jains, Buddhists — in Bengal, we all know how to walk shoulder to shoulder. We share joy. Because we believe that religion is for each individual, but festivals are for everyone. Our fight against those who are playing the game of destroying the country by stoking the fire of communalism will continue. May everyone maintain peace and harmony,” she added.
Appealing for peace and harmony, Mamata Banerjee wrote, “May everyone maintain peace and unity.”

Additionally, the party organised a rally at Mayo Road, where party leaders sharply criticized suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir and the BJP, accusing them of hypocrisy on border issues.

The rally was attended by party leaders Chandrima Bhattacharya and Sashi Panja along with supporters.

Addressing the gathering, Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim said that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has imbibed in party workers the feeling of brotherhood, irrespective of anyone’s religion. “We, from all religions, have come together to mark this day – Sanhati Diwas,” he said.

Calling December 6 — Babri masjid demolition day as “Black day” in Indian history, the mayor said, “It was not just demolition of a mosque, but a blow was struck by the BJP on people’s faith that ‘this is my India’.”

“The BJP is trying to create religious divide among people and they are being assisted by some of our people who are known as gaddar (traitor), Mir Jafar,” he said.

“Some Mir Jafar are instigating people in the name of mandir and masjid, basically helping the BJP.”

He was alluding to suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir, who on Saturday laid the foundation stone for a mosque modelled on Ayodhya’s Babri Masjid at Rejinagar in Murshidabad district.

State Women, Child and Social Welfare minister Sashi Panja said, “While the BJP screams infiltration, their own leaders operate with dual identities.”

She further alleged that a BJP leader, Subhash Chandra Mondal, holds dual voter IDs in India and Bangladesh. “BJP’s GP member Subhash Chandra Mondal holds voter IDs in both India and Bangladesh. Subhash, who is registered as Subhash Chandra Mondal in Swarupnagar and as Subhash Mondal in Bangladesh’s Satkhira district, contested and won from Booth 100 in 2023 PRI polls despite this dual citizenship status. When will the Home Minister explain how his own party’s elected representative voted on both sides of the border?”

Panja also criticized BJP MP Jagannath Sarkar’s statement on merging India and Bangladesh, saying, “If the BJP has any sense of nationalism, it must suspend this MP.”

“BJP’s Ranaghat MP Jagannath Sarkar declared publicly that ‘if BJP comes to power, India and Bangladesh will merge with no borders.’ The same BJP lectures Bengal about border protection. If the BJP has any sense of nationalism, it must suspend this MP immediately. Otherwise the BJP should stop pretending to protect India’s borders.”

Panja further questioned the BJP’s selective focus on “infiltration,” asking why the process is restricted to Bengal and not extended to other border-sharing states like Meghalaya, Assam, and Tripura

“If infiltration is truly the concern, why is the process restricted only to Bengal? Meghalaya, Assam, and Tripura also share borders. Why is the Centre terrified of extending its so-called SIR to States ruled by the BJP?,” the minister further said.

Meanwhile, preparations are in full swing at the Brigade Parade Ground for a “Gita Path” programme on Sunday, expected to draw five lakh participants.