Kolkata: “I am an Indian and I will always be Indian. I am secular and I will always be secular,” said city mayor and urban development minister. Firhad Hakim on Sunday while attending a local party programme. This statement came after opposition parties and even some functionaries of his own party attacked him for purportedly making a comment on minorities while addressing an educational conference recently.
The video showed the TMC functionary allegedly stating: “In Bengal, we are 33%. However, in the country, we are 17%. We are referred to as a minority. But we do not consider ourselves a minority. We believe that with the blessings of the Almighty. , one day we can become even more of a majority than the current majority…”
On Saturday, BJP’s Amit Malviya shared a segment of the video on X, expressing criticism of Hakim’s remarks. The post gained traction as other BJP The officials shared it further.
Hakim clarified on Saturday that his statement was misrepresented by BJP, explaining that he was specifically discussing educational disparities rather than religious demographics. “As education spreads, the gulf will be bridged and there will be one identity,” Hakim stated.
Speaking to TOI he said, “What I said was related to education and not religion. Once more people get educated, we — the educated class — will be the majority.”
The video showed the TMC functionary allegedly stating: “In Bengal, we are 33%. However, in the country, we are 17%. We are referred to as a minority. But we do not consider ourselves a minority. We believe that with the blessings of the Almighty. , one day we can become even more of a majority than the current majority…”
On Saturday, BJP’s Amit Malviya shared a segment of the video on X, expressing criticism of Hakim’s remarks. The post gained traction as other BJP The officials shared it further.
Hakim clarified on Saturday that his statement was misrepresented by BJP, explaining that he was specifically discussing educational disparities rather than religious demographics. “As education spreads, the gulf will be bridged and there will be one identity,” Hakim stated.
Speaking to TOI he said, “What I said was related to education and not religion. Once more people get educated, we — the educated class — will be the majority.”
