A nearly decade-old political controversy erupted once again in the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) House on Thursday, creating a heated exchange. The flashpoint was an allegation by a BJP councillor that Mayor Firhad Hakim had once referred to the Garden Reach area as a 'mini Pakistan'. The mayor issued a forceful denial and challenged his accuser to provide documented proof.
The Allegation and the Vehement Denial
BJP councillor Sajal Ghosh raised the issue during a debate concerning the BJP's alleged attempts to tarnish Bengali pride. Ghosh claimed that back in April 2016, during the fifth phase of the Assembly elections, Firhad Hakim—then a minister but not yet mayor—had made the contentious remark. Ghosh asserted that Hakim used the term 'mini Pakistan' while speaking to a correspondent from the Pakistani daily newspaper 'Dawn'.
The accusation triggered an immediate and angry response from Mayor Hakim. He vehemently denied ever making such a statement. "You give me proof, I will resign not only from the mayor's post but quit politics altogether," Hakim declared from the House floor, directly challenging Ghosh. He emphasized his identity as an Indian first, stating, "Yes, I am a Muslim. But more than that, I am an Indian, and like all patriotic Indians, I feel Pakistan is our enemy country."
Revisiting the 2016 Dawn Report
The roots of this controversy lie in a report published in the web edition of Dawn in 2016. The article, titled 'Canvassing in 'mini Pakistan' of Kolkata', was filed by reporter Maleeha Hamid Siddiqui. It quoted the then Bengal urban development minister, Firhad Hakim, as saying, "Please come along and let's take you to mini Pakistan in Kolkata," while she accompanied him on a campaign trail in Garden Reach.
The report gained significant traction online, garnering thousands of 'likes' on Facebook at the time. Following its publication, the BJP had demanded Hakim's removal from the Trinamool Congress. Hakim's response then was to label it a "blatant attempt to foment communal tensions ahead of election." He had also questioned the logic, asking, "If PM Modi can visit Pakistan four times, how does it matter if one Firhad Hakim gives a 'mini Pakistan' statement?" His party colleagues had distanced themselves from the remark back in 2016.
Broader Political Context and Recent Remarks
The KMC House session also saw Mayor Hakim commenting on a recent incident in Bihar. He strongly criticized Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar for his attempt to pull down a Muslim woman's hijab in Patna. "Nitish Kumar's mind is polluted due to his association with BJP. Indian culture and civilization don't approve of such a barbaric act," Hakim stated, linking the act to the BJP's influence.
This revival of a nine-year-old claim highlights the persistent and often contentious nature of political discourse in Kolkata, where historical statements are frequently weaponized in contemporary debates. The mayor's outright denial and high-stakes challenge for proof have left the ball in the accuser's court, ensuring the issue remains a point of political contention.
