Kolkata, April 14: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is making a mistake by increasingly empowering a personality like the state municipal affairs & urban development minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, since the latter could challenge her leadership, BJP’s Information Technology Cell chief and the party’s central observer for West Bengal Amit Malviya said on Monday.

“If Mamata Banerjee continues her silence, she risks empowering a figure whose ideological ambitions could ultimately challenge her leadership and catalyze a deeper push toward the Islamization of Bengal,” Malviya said in a statement that he posted on the wall of his official X handle.

Malviya had also explained why he had made this observation and referred to a recent statement made by Hakim that “everything is alright in West Bengal”, while reacting to the recent unrest in Murshidabad district where protests over the newly promulgated Waqf (Amendment) Act turned violent since last week.

“This is the same man who referred to a part of Kolkata as ‘mini Pakistan’ and has previously made provocative statements promoting religious conversion to Islam. He has openly supported initiatives like Dawat-E-Islam and labelled non-Muslims as ‘unfortunate’. He has even envisioned an India governed entirely by Islamic law and jurisprudence,” observed Malviya in his statement.

According to him, it is a matter of “travesty” that Hakim is occupying the post of Kolkata Mayor, a chair which had been graced in the past by iconic Indians like Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das and Subhash Chandra Bose, among others.

“His ascent is symbolic of the erosion of the refined ‘bhadralok’ sensibilities that Kolkata was once renowned for,” Malviya added.

Malviya also said that it was a matter of shock for him that Hakim had indirectly “justified and expressed satisfaction” over the displacement of Hindus from Murshidabad.

“Bengali Hindus are being reduced to refugees in their own homeland like Kashmiri Pandits, who had to flee from Kashmir to escape religious persecution and seek refuge in Jammu and the rest of India,” he said.

Raigad Fort, April 12: Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Saturday announced that the state government will frame strict rules to take stern action against those who insult national heroes and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

“Udayanraje made some demands, including severe punishment, to those insulting the national heroes and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Such people should be thrown from the fort. But being a democracy, the government will formulate rules,” said the Chief Minister while speaking at the Raigad Fort on the occasion of the death anniversary of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

The Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Deputy Chief Ministers Eknath Shinde and Ajit Pawar, and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s descendants Chhatrapati Udayanraje Bhosale and Shivendraraje Bhosale were also present.

The Chief Minister added that the government will not tolerate insults to national heroes and Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

He also announced that the government will release the history of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj.

As far as the memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, the Chief Minister said the state government will pursue the legal case in the high court.

In his speech, the Chief Minister explained why Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj is our ‘god’.

“When Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj was there, there were Adilshahi, Mughal raj, Qutbshahi in the country. It seemed that the rule of foreign invaders would never end. It seemed that there was darkness everywhere. Then, with the blessings of the mother Jijau, a bright sun like Shivaji Maharaj was born. Without Shivaji Maharaj, we would be nothing,” he said.

The Chief Minister added that Shivaji Maharaj did the work of awakening the brilliance by uniting the people of the Athrapgad castes.

“By uniting the Mavlas, he established Hindavi Swarajya. Only because of Shivaji Maharaj did the saffron rule come to the whole of India,” he said.

The Chief Minister said the government will seek the Union Home Minister’s help for the construction of a memorial of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj in New Delhi.

He further added that 12 forts of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj have been nominated as world heritage.

“Now there will be a presentation on it in France. The government will go there. Quite hopeful that these forts will get world heritage status,” he stated.

Lucknow, April 12: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday paid tributes to medieval Rajput ruler Rana Sanga on his birth anniversary, amid a political row sparked by Samajwadi Party MP Ramji Lal Suman’s controversial remarks in the Rajya Sabha.

“On the birth anniversary of the mighty Rana Sanga Ji, who was dedicated to the protection of religion, many salutes to him! His story of glory, a symbol of patriotism and sacrifice, is a golden chapter in history. His bravery will continue to irrigate the land of India with self-respect for centuries,” CM Yogi posted on X on Saturday.

The tribute comes in the backdrop of a controversy that erupted after Suman called Rana Sanga a “traitor” during a parliamentary debate. The remarks triggered widespread outrage, especially in Agra, where a large crowd gathered outside Suman’s residence. Members of the Karni Sena attempted to enter the MP’s house but were stopped by the police. A scuffle ensued, leading to injuries to a few people.

In his speech in Parliament, Ramji Lal Suman had stated that Rana Sanga had invited Mughal emperor Babur to India to defeat Ibrahim Lodi.

“BJP leaders often say that Muslims have Babur’s DNA. But the Muslims of India do not consider Babur as their ideal — they revere Prophet Mohammad,” he said, questioning, “Who brought Babur to India? It was Rana Sanga.”

The BJP demanded an apology from Suman, but the MP has stood by his statement.

SP chief Akhilesh Yadav, meanwhile, sought to calm tensions, saying, “The pages of history that carry controversy should not be reopened.”

Amid the controversy, the Karni Sena is holding a large event in Agra on Saturday to mark Rana Sanga’s birth anniversary. The rally, titled Rakt Swabhiman Sammelan, is expected to draw people from several states and will be attended by a number of prominent personalities.

Police have imposed tight security measures to maintain peace and order in the district.