BJP Condemns Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim's Remarks 'Need To Spread Islam Among Non-Muslims'

Kolkata: The BJP, on Saturday, condemned the statements made by the Mayor of Kolkata Firhad Hakim when the latter allegedly said that those who were not born Muslims were ‘unfortunate.’

A close aide of TMC Chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Hakim, at a public gathering on Friday, allegedly called out people to convert to Islam and went on to say that people need to bring Iman into them to make Allah happy. 

Won't Respond If A Dog Barks, Says Hakim

Hakim allegedly said, “Unfortunate are those who were not born Muslims. The Quran should be understood by the believers in other religions. Even if a single person of another religion understands the Quran, then the path to heaven is clear.”

Responding to his alleged statement, 'Need to spread Islam among non-Muslims,' he told ANI, “It was not a controversial statement...I am a secular person. I give respect to all religions. I am not concerned about what the BJP says. The remark was not surrounding conversion.”

He added, “We tell them (BJP) to come and fight with us. Fight against us in Hindu areas. If you can defeat us, we will leave politics. I won't respond if a dog barks.”

BJP Reacts Sharply Over Hakim's Remarks

Talking to X, BJP's IT Cell Chief Amit Malviya wrote, “People who were not born into Islam are unfortunate. We have to spread Islam among those people (Hindus), who are not followers of Islam. Those who are born in Islam, will reach jannat. - Firhad Hakim, Kolkata Mayor and TMC Leader; 3rd July at Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium, Kolkata. Event was hosted by All India Quraner Alo Foundation 2024.”

He added, “The TMC's penchant for extreme appeasement politics in West Bengal is an open secret. The party’s relentless appeasement politics has paid off, as evident from the successive electoral victories and subsequent post poll violence, which have emboldened the TMC, making it more audacious and haughty than ever. The brazen act of publicly flogging a woman by TMC’s JCB in a manner akin to Sharia Court punishment and the reprehensible defense by TMC’s Chopra MLA, Hamidur Rahman, asserting such actions are typical in a ‘Muslim Rashtra,’ have already incited a political maelstrom and bears the testament to the TMC’s ‘underlying agenda’.”

He concluded by saying, “Now, TMC heavyweight and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim openly acknowledged this ‘underlying agenda’, by brazenly advocating the conversion of ‘ill-fated non-Muslims’ to Islam to ostensibly please ‘Allah’. These flagrant incidents portend an ominous future, where the TMC’s policy of appeasement will intensify, heralding a day not far off when West Bengal is wholly converted into a ‘Muslim Rashtra’ under ‘Didi’s Anuprerona (inspiration).”