Within hours of claiming there was "no need for a minority morcha" in the BJP, Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, clarified that his remarks were misconstrued and withdrawn from the context.
In his speech at the BJP working committee meeting this afternoon, Adhikari said, “I have spoken about nationalist Muslims. You all said 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas'. But I will not say this anymore. Instead, I will say 'Jo Hamare Saath, Hum Unke Sath'. There is no need for a minority morcha."
He later took to X and clarified by saying, 'Jo hamare saath, hum unke saath,' he meant that the party should support those who are nationalist and stand up for the country and Bengal.
"My statement is being taken out of context. What I meant was that the party should stand by those who are nationalists and who speak for the nation and Bengal. Those who do not stand with us and work against the interests of the nation and the state need to be exposed.".
"Also, like Mamata Banerjee, we shouldn't divide people into majority and minority but see them as Indians. I am the embodiment, in letter and spirit, of our Prime Minister's call to 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas, Sabka Prayas'," Adhikari wrote in the post.
He also told the media on the sidelines of the working committee meeting that he made those comments because he realised that Muslims in West Bengal never vote for BJP.
He further clarified that his remarks regarding 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas' should be taken in a political perspective, not an administrative one.
Suvendu Adhikari Urges Removal of BJP's Minority Cell
Opposition leader of West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari demanded that the minority cell in the Bharatiya Janata Party be scrapped. While speaking at the BJP working committee meeting set up to review its performance in recent elections, Adhikari suggested that instead of 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas', the party should raise the slogan 'Jo Hamare Saath, Hum Unke Sath', meaning those who are with us, we are with them."I have spoken of nationalist Muslims. You all said 'Sabka Sath, Sabka Vikas'. But I will not say this anymore. Now I will say that 'Jo Hamare Sath, Hum Unke Sath'. No need for minority morcha," Adhikari asserted in his introductory speech.
Adhikari further claimed that Hindu voters were hindered from voting in both the Lok Sabha polls and the Assembly by-elections. "Previously, only opposition party workers, especially those from the BJP, were attacked and prevented from voting. But now, Hindu voters in general are being prevented from casting their votes. Around 50 lakh Hindu voters in the state could not vote in the recent Lok Sabha elections," he alleged.
He also accused the state administration of grossly underutilizing Central Armed Police Forces deployed for the elections.
Expressing concern over future elections, Adhikari said he is apprehensive whether he would be able to cast his vote in the 2026 Assembly polls. "There is a high possibility that 50 jihadi goons will block my door so that I don't reach the polling station," he said.
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