A shocking incident in West Bengal has ignited a political firestorm after a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader threatened a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA with an acid attack. Abdur Rahim Bakshi, the TMC district president of Malda, made the inflammatory remarks during a public gathering, sparking outrage and strong condemnation from the BJP.
Bakshi's outburst was directed towards BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh, though he was not named directly. The TMC leader warned that if any BJP MLA dared to label migrant workers from Bengal as "Bangladeshis" or "Rohingyas," they would have acid poured down their throat to silence their voice. Specifically, Bakshi stated, "If any BJP MLA in the Assembly calls migrant workers from Bengal Bangladeshi Rohingyas, then I will pour such acid on his throat that his voice will be silenced". He further added, "The one who shamelessly says 30 lakh migrant workers of Bengal are Rohingyas or Bangladeshis... if I hear this again, I will burn your voice to ashes with acid inside your mouth. I will burn your face with acid," urging supporters to socially boycott the BJP and tear down their flags. He even went so far as to suggest physical violence against BJP members, stating people should beat up a BJP MP if required.
The BJP has reacted sharply to the threats, accusing the TMC of fostering a culture of intolerance and violence. BJP Malda MP Khagen Murmu condemned Bakshi's words as a dangerous assault on democracy. BJP workers staged protests in Malda, led by Murmu, against what they claimed were false police cases targeting BJP members. Amit Malviya, head of the BJP IT Cell, went further, accusing the TMC of normalizing political violence and reminding the public that Bakshi had previously threatened to cut off the hands and feet of BJP, CPI(M), and Congress workers. According to Malviya, such remarks reflect an entrenched culture of intimidation within the TMC, where violence is a hallmark of their political strategy.
Despite the severe backlash, Abdur Rahim Bakshi has defended his statements, claiming he did not make any undemocratic remarks. This is not an isolated incident, as Bakshi has a history of making controversial and threatening statements against the opposition.
The incident occurs despite TMC leader Mamata Banerjee's recent warnings to party members, cautioning them against making derogatory or inflammatory comments that could damage the party's image ahead of upcoming state polls. This latest controversy further escalates the already tense political rivalry between the TMC and BJP in West Bengal.
