Political Tensions Escalate in Baruipur Amid BJP and Trinamool Processions

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, March 20, 2025, Kolkata : Political tensions flared in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, on Wednesday as rival processions by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) took place within 100 meters of each other. The situation quickly escalated into a heated exchange, with both parties raising slogans—'Jai Shri Ram' from BJP supporters and 'Jai Bangla' from the TMC camp.

The controversy deepened as remarks made by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari came under fresh scrutiny. During the march, BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul, who accompanied Adhikari, stated, "We are being shown black flags because we stand for traditional Hindus. But we also support nationalist Muslims. If there is injustice, we will raise our voices against it. If someone thinks they can silence us with black flags, then they don’t understand the BJP."

The police were quick to intervene, managing to de-escalate the tense atmosphere to some extent. The unrest stemmed from an earlier incident in the state assembly, where Speaker Biman Banerjee denied Adhikari the opportunity to speak. In protest, Adhikari led the BJP rally through Banerjee’s constituency in Baruipur, prompting TMC to organize a counter-rally in response.

With assembly elections approaching, the political climate in West Bengal appears to be increasingly charged, with religious undertones shaping the discourse. Adhikari, a prominent leader of the opposition, had previously declared, "I am an MLA of Hindus," a remark that, while controversial, did not initially spark widespread debate. However, Paul’s clarification that the BJP represents not just Hindus but also nationalist Muslims has added a new dimension to the ongoing political discourse.

As political rivalries intensify, the incident underscores the deepening divide and the significance of religious identity in the state's electoral battles.