Firhad Hakim rejects opposition's "man-made fire" claims in Khidirpur blaze

The recent devastating fire in Khidirpur, Kolkata, became a focal point of contention in the West Bengal Assembly on Thursday, with Leader of Opposition Shuvendu Adhikari accusing the government of failure and alleging a conspiracy for land promotion. However, Minister Firhad Hakim strongly refuted these claims, stating there is no precedent in Kolkata or the state where a major fire incident has led to subsequent large-scale building development. His comments highlight the ongoing political slugfest surrounding the incident, particularly the allegations of arson for land acquisition.

Firhad Hakim's significant remarks in the assembly directly addressed the opposition's insinuation of a "man-made fire." He asserted, "There is no such incident in Kolkata or anywhere in the state where there is promotion at that place after the fire. There is no example of a big building being built after the fire. On the contrary, there was a problem in rehabilitating it." This statement aimed to dismiss the conspiracy theories circulating since the fire.

Incidentally, both CPM leader Mohammad Selim and Leader of the Opposition Shuvendu Adhikari had raised suspicions of a deliberate fire after the Khidirpur Bazar blaze, suggesting a plot for area development. They also questioned the delayed arrival of the fire brigade. Fire Minister Sujit Basu had already addressed the latter point in the Assembly earlier. Firhad Hakim's reply came during the mention period of the Assembly session today.

The minister provided statistics, stating that in the last 14 years, 150 people have died in fires across the state. He added that there are currently 130 fire stations in West Bengal. This year alone, Kolkata has witnessed 12 major fire incidents, emphasizing the frequency and severity of such occurrences.

Countering the government's stance, Shuvendu Adhikari cited information from the National Recommendation Committee, claiming that West Bengal ideally requires 2000 fire stations equipped with state-of-the-art equipment. The opposition collectively demanded that the Kolkata Municipality, fire department, and police jointly formulate a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) in the public interest, and urged for action regarding the absence of new fire brigade stations.

In response, Firhad Hakim acknowledged the severity of the Khidirpur fire, stating, "A terrible fire has occurred. We have already done an SOP. There is no point in blaming the government alone." He also pointed towards a lack of awareness among the general public as a contributing factor to fire incidents, suggesting a shared responsibility in fire prevention.

Leader of Opposition Shuvendu Adhikari reiterated his strong suspicion, claiming, "The only reason behind setting fire to the Mangalahat-Jhupri area of Howrah from Narkeldanga to Khidirpur is the encroachment of very valuable lands. That area will remain vacant for some time, then it will be promoted." This persistent allegation underscores the deep mistrust between the opposition and the ruling party, particularly concerning land-related issues in valuable urban areas.