Firhad Hakim calls Sukanta Majumdar’s UP remark "joke of the day," slams UP as a 'death trap' for devout Hindus | Watch

Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim strongly criticized BJP state president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar’s statement that West Bengal should learn administrative management from Uttar Pradesh. Calling the remark the "joke of the day," Hakim countered that Uttar Pradesh lacks proper infrastructure, leading to serious safety concerns, including stampedes and train overcrowding.

Hakim accused the Uttar Pradesh government of prioritizing publicity over governance, alleging that thousands of Hindu pilgrims face life-threatening situations due to inadequate facilities. "In infrastructure-deficient Uttar Pradesh, thousands of devout Hindus are trapped in deadly conditions," he said. He further claimed that issues such as unsafe pilgrimage sites, lack of clean drinking water, and poorly managed transport networks have contributed to repeated accidents and fatalities.

Addressing Kolkata Municipal Corporation’s budget, Hakim stated that funds were allocated based on necessity. He clarified that sectors with sufficient previous funding did not require additional allocations. On the reduction of health sector funds, he highlighted a 39% rise in overall revenue collection and a 19% increase in tax collection, stating that financial management had been optimized to focus on priority areas.

Speaking on the use of language in politics, Hakim accused the BJP of lowering the standards of political discourse through personal attacks and defamatory remarks. He said politics should be centered on ideology and principles rather than aggressive rhetoric. "Bengalis know how to fight, live with dignity, and never bow down," he said, emphasizing the cultural resilience of Bengal.

On the occasion of International Mother Language Day, Hakim, along with MP Mala Roy, MLA Debashis Kumar, and several ward councilors, paid tribute at Bhasha Shahid Udyan by laying wreaths. He also participated in a marrow donation drive at Ekushe Udyan. The event saw the presence of several civic leaders and officials.