Trinamool Congress (TMC) President and MLA Abdur Rahim Bakshi has sparked widespread controversy by threatening to pour acid into the mouth of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator. The inflammatory remarks, made during a public gathering on Saturday evening, were aimed at BJP MLA Shankar Ghosh, though Bakshi refrained from naming him directly. The event was organized to protest alleged mistreatment of Bengali-speaking migrant workers in other Indian states, a sensitive issue in the region.
Bakshi’s speech took a menacing turn as he referenced Ghosh’s earlier statements in the state assembly, where the BJP MLA reportedly described Bengal’s migrant workers as “Rohingyas” or “Bangladeshis.” In a fiery retort, Bakshi declared, “The one who shamelessly claims that the 30 lakh migrant workers from Bengal working outside are not Bengalis—they are Rohingyas, they are Bangladeshis—I warned him before, and I’m warning him again: if you repeat this, I will burn your voice to ashes with acid in your mouth. This is West Bengal, and we Bengalis will not let you speak like this. I will burn your face with acid.”
The TMC leader didn’t stop there. He urged his supporters to “tear down BJP flags” across Malda and called for a social boycott of the party, intensifying the already charged political atmosphere in the district. Bakshi’s history of provocative statements adds weight to the controversy—this is not the first time he has issued violent threats. A few years ago, he reportedly threatened to “cut off the hands and feet” of leaders and workers from the BJP, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Congress, signaling a pattern of aggressive rhetoric.
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The remarks have drawn sharp condemnation from the BJP, which accused the TMC of fostering a culture of intimidation and violence. Khagen Murmu, the BJP’s Member of Parliament from Malda Uttar, lambasted Bakshi’s comments, calling them reflective of the ruling party’s desperation as the state assembly elections loom. “This is the hallmark of Trinamool Congress culture—intimidation and threats,” Murmu said. “Such statements are becoming routine in Malda. The TMC district president makes these remarks to grab headlines, but it’s clear they’re rattled by the fear of losing in the upcoming elections.”
Murmu also highlighted ongoing tensions in the district, accusing the TMC of orchestrating false police cases against BJP workers. In response, the BJP organized protests in Malda, with Murmu leading a sit-in demonstration to demand accountability and an end to what he described as targeted harassment of his party’s supporters.
The controversy comes despite repeated directives from TMC supremo and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has urged her party leaders to refrain from inflammatory language. At a recent review meeting focused on election preparedness, Banerjee emphasized the need for restraint, warning that reckless remarks could tarnish the party’s image and alienate voters. Bakshi’s latest outburst, however, suggests that her warnings have gone unheeded by some within the TMC ranks.
The incident has further inflamed political tensions in West Bengal, a state already polarized ahead of the assembly elections. The TMC and BJP have been locked in a bitter rivalry, with both parties trading accusations of violence, voter intimidation, and divisive rhetoric. Bakshi’s threat has added fuel to the fire, raising concerns about the potential for further escalation as the polls draw closer.
Political analysts suggest that such inflammatory statements could backfire on the TMC, alienating moderate voters and providing the BJP with ammunition to portray the ruling party as authoritarian. At the same time, Bakshi’s remarks may resonate with a section of TMC supporters who view the BJP’s comments on migrant workers as an attack on Bengali identity. The issue of migrant workers has long been a flashpoint in West Bengal, with many accusing the BJP of stoking xenophobia by questioning the identity of Bengalis working in other states.
As outrage grows, all eyes are on the TMC leadership to see how they address Bakshi’s comments. Will the party take disciplinary action, or will it downplay the incident as electioneering rhetoric? Meanwhile, the BJP is likely to seize on the controversy to rally its base and intensify its campaign against the TMC’s governance. With West Bengal’s political landscape heating up, this incident underscores the volatile nature of the state’s politics and the challenges of maintaining civility in a deeply divided electoral battleground.
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