A controversy erupted in the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, following a remark made by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Member of Parliament (MP) Samik Bhattacharya referencing a portion of encroached government land in West Bengal as "mini-Pakistan". The comment triggered immediate and strong protests from opposition members, disrupting the proceedings and igniting a debate on national unity and responsible language in Parliament.
Bhattacharya, who also serves as the BJP state president in West Bengal, raised the issue during a discussion on the alleged encroachment of approximately 4,000 acres of government land. He stated that the term "mini-Pakistan" was used by the Mayor of Kolkata to describe the area near Garden Reach, which he claimed was illegally occupied. Bhattacharya also said that encroachment is a widespread problem, not limited to port land and the TMC is both encroaching public land and making controversial public statements. He accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) of being linked to the land encroachment. He noted that Kolkata Port is the single largest landowner in the city, with nearly 4,000 acres, and that around 170 acres of prime port land is under illegal occupation, especially in Garden Reach, Metiabruz, and Khidirpur.
The remark drew immediate condemnation from opposition MPs, who called the statement divisive and offensive. Members of the opposition stood and raised slogans objecting to the language used. Nationalist Congress Party-Sharadchandra Pawar (NCP-SCP) MP Dr. Fauzia Khan strongly objected to the remark, urging the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha to expunge it from the official records. She argued that such language unfairly labels Indian citizens and undermines national unity. Khan emphasized that it was inappropriate to label Indian citizens in such a manner.
Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] MP John Brittas also criticized Bhattacharya's statement, cautioning that such remarks could lead to serious misunderstandings and even international complications. He said that careless words could even invite international complications.
In response to the uproar, Shantanu Thakur, the Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, acknowledged the land encroachment issue and stated that the matter is currently in court. He confirmed that the Mayor of Kolkata had previously used the term "mini-Pakistan" in public statements regarding the area. Thakur said that the port authority has filed court cases to recover the land, but enforcement has been difficult. He also stated, "What the MP has said is right… people there have encroached all the place".
The Chairman of the Rajya Sabha attempted to restore order, stating that unrelated issues should not be raised during question hour. The controversy highlights the sensitivity surrounding issues of land encroachment and the use of language that could be perceived as discriminatory or divisive in the Indian political context. The incident underscores the importance of responsible rhetoric and the need for respectful dialogue within the Parliament.