Suvendu slams Firhad over 'Maal' jibe, pulls up Congress as well

Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, delivered a strong political message during the inauguration of the Jagaddhatri Puja in Durgapur on Friday. The event, organized by the "Swapno Udan" association, saw Adhikari addressing the gathering and making a direct appeal to the deity, saying, "Mother, grant us freedom from Mamata’s rule." His statement underscores his ongoing opposition to the leadership of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in the state.

In his speech, Adhikari also criticized members of the ruling coalition, particularly TMC Minister Firhad Hakim. He referred to recent controversial remarks made by Hakim about BJP leader Rekha Patra. Adhikari specifically mentioned comments made by Congress leader Irfan Ansari, who allegedly referred to a female tribal leader, Sita Soren, as "rejected goods." He also highlighted Hakim's comments, where he referred to Rekha Patra as "used goods." Adhikari condemned these statements, saying, "The Congress, a part of the INDIA alliance, has leaders like Irfan Ansari who insulted a female tribal leader, calling her ‘rejected goods.’ In another instance, Firhad Hakim referred to Rekha Patra as ‘used goods.’"

Adhikari expanded on the issue, stating that such remarks were not isolated incidents but part of a larger pattern within the ruling party and its allies. He said the language used by these leaders reflected a wider culture of disrespect toward women. "Their language and actions reflect a culture that views women as objects," he said. Following these comments, Rekha Patra, along with other women from the Scheduled Caste community, filed a police complaint against Firhad Hakim. The complaint sought legal action against Hakim for the alleged derogatory remarks.

The Leader of the Opposition also raised concerns about what he described as a "threat culture" in West Bengal, attributing its origin to the leadership of Mamata Banerjee. Adhikari claimed that this culture of intimidation extended beyond opposition leaders, stating that journalists had also been subjected to threats under the current administration. He said, "Mamata not only threatens us but has also threatened journalists." Adhikari’s statement referred to incidents where journalists have faced pressure or intimidation in the state. At the end of his speech, Adhikari made another appeal to the deity, requesting freedom from Mamata Banerjee’s rule.