As the political scenario heats up ahead of the upcoming by-elections for six assembly seats, tensions between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have increased dramatically. The latest spark has come from actor-turned-politician Mithun Chakraborty, whose inflammatory remarks during a BJP event have drawn widespread condemnation and concern. At a membership campaign event attended by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, 74-year-old Chakraborty issued a call to action for BJP supporters.
Also read: One person injured in fire in South Kolkata, many slums burnt to ashes
Referring to a controversial statement made by TMC’s Humayun Kabir regarding religious demagoguery, he urged his party members to respond with violence, saying we will cut them and bury them in the ground.
He emphasized that this was a direct response to what he considered a threat to Hindus in Bengal, declaring that we would do anything to win the Masnad (throne) of Bengal. After the 2026 assembly elections, it will belong to BJP. Chakraborty’s comments, filled with violent imagery, are not the first incident to create a stir in the already tense political atmosphere of West Bengal.
Also read: Cyclone Dana: Normal life affected in Odisha-Bengal, strong winds and heavy rains, high alert in many areas
Kabir’s earlier statements during a rally that suggested violent consequences against the Hindu community had led to condemnation by the Election Commission. The back-and-forth has raised concerns about the deteriorating nature of political discussion in the region. To show bravery, Chakraborty called on BJP supporters to demonstrate their resolve, and encouraged them to confront violence: “We want people who can stand up and say, ‘Shoot me… shoot me. Let’s see how many bullets you have’.” Threatening retaliation against the alleged attacks on the BJP, he said, “If you cut one fruit from our trees… we will cut four of your fruits.
