TMC leader says, 'If India's 30% Muslims unite, 4 Pakistans can be created'; BJP hits out

Ahead of West Bengal assembly elections, ar Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader has courted controversy with his purported remarks that “four Pakistan” can be created if India’s “30% Muslim population comes toger.”

TMC leader Alam Sheikh, while addressing his supporters in Basa para, Naor, in Birbhum was reportedly head saying, "“We mirities are 30%. rest is 70%. y (BJP) think y will come to power (in Bengal) with this 70%. y should be ashamed…if 30% of mirities unite…if India’s Muslims unite, four Pakistan can be created. Where will India’s 70% go?”

According to 2011 Census, Bengal’s Muslim population is a little over 27% accounting for 14.2% of India’s total population. Sheikh made comments while campaigning for TMC candidate  Naor (SC) Bidhan Chandra Majhi. 

Mamata's brazen appeasement politics

His remarks about breaking India has drawn flak from Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) with its leader Amit Malviya questioning TMC Supremo Mamata Banerjee wher she endorsed such position. Malviya, who is BJP's co-in-charge for West Bengal, tweeted a video that showed Alam making controversial statements and said, “…He obviously owes his allegiance to (chief minister) Mamata Banerjee… Does she endorse this position?” 

“TMC leaders like Sheikh Alam have audacity to dream of 4 Pakistan because of Mamata Banerjee’s brazen appeasement politics over last 10 years. She reduced majority community in Bengal to second-grade citizens, where y had to seek court approval even for Durga visarjan!” he said in a subsequent tweet.

controversy comes just two days ahead of first round of polling in a politically charged atmosphere of West Bengal that will go to elections in eight phases starting March 27. polarisation debate between BJP and  TMC has taken centre st in run-up for polls.

BJP has accused Banerjee’s government of mirity appeasement at cost of or communities, while national party appears to consolidate Hindu vote including all castes, to win Bengal. saffron party has for long cornered Banerjee for objecting “Jai Shri Ram” chant, to which TMC chief attempted to hit back by reciting Chandipath at a rally in Nandigram and reach out to Hindus.