Suvendu Adhikari warns against remarks that could fuel communal tension; says development will be the priority in Rejinagar

PTI, July 10, 2026, Rejinagar: West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday said he is not a "weak and coward" CM like Mamata Banerjee, and asserted that he will not tolerate reckless remarks from elected representatives that can potentially stoke communal tension.

He was referring to Aam Janata Unnayan Party (AJUP) chief Humayun Kabir, an MLA who recently made certain "inflammatory" remarks.

Speaking at a BJP rally ahead of the bypoll in Rejinagar in Murshidabad district, the schedule for which is yet to be announced, Adhikari called his predecessor and TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee "weak and coward" and stated that his response to such "irresponsible acts" would be diametrically opposite.

“Make no mistake, I am not a weak and coward Chief Minister like Mamata Banerjee. I will not tolerate reckless comments from elected representatives. I have asked the local MLA to choose his words carefully, keeping in mind the Constitution of the country,” the CM said.

Alongside Nandigram, a seat that was vacated by Adhikari after he simultaneously won the prestigious Bhabanipur seat where he defeated the TMC chief, bye-elections are likely to take place in Rejinagar after it was given up by Kabir, who also won the Nowda seat.

“The bypolls in Rejinagar will be held in the next 30 to 45 days. We will usher in development here, with whatever demands the voters here may have, as against the Hindu-Muslim politics which has been practised for so long in this region,” Adhikari said.

He alleged that people of the region have had to endure endless suffering since the previous TMC-led government allegedly stoked the fire of violence across Murshidabad in the name of protests against issues like CAA-NRC and the Waqf Act.

On June 29, while addressing the State Assembly during the Budget session, Adhikari lashed out at Kabir, accusing the Nowda MLA of making inflammatory statements to polarise voters for a bypoll the AJUP leader's son is likely to fight after he vacated the Rejinagar seat.

"I will not allow you (Kabir) to make such reckless and unrestrained public statements ever again. I will not only make him withdraw his statements, but also ensure he thinks multiple times before making such remarks. I assure this House that this would be the last time he makes such comments in public," Adhikari had said, and added that “time has come to teach the Nowda MLA a lesson”.

On another occasion in Murshidabad, the Chief Minister said Governor RN Ravi has given his assent to the two public safety Bills passed by the State Assembly recently and that the new laws will come into force next week.

Adhikari also said the committee for the Uniform Civil Code (UCC), headed by retired Supreme Court Judge Ranjana Prakash Desai, has started working and that he was hopeful of introducing it in the Assembly very soon.

"The West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, and the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2026, which have been passed in the Assembly recently, will be implemented in the state from Monday," Adhikari told reporters after chairing an administrative review meeting in Murshidabad district.

The two Bills were passed in the Assembly on June 29.

A person can be preventively detained for up to 12 months under the West Bengal Public Safety and Control of Anti-Social Activities Bill, 2026, for alleged involvement in anti-social activities deemed to threaten public safety or disturb public peace and order.

The second Bill, the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order (Amendment) Bill, 2026, provides for recovery of compensation from persons found responsible for arson, vandalism and damage to public or private property.

The amended Bill, originally the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act, 1972, also provides for the constitution of a claims commission to adjudicate compensation claims arising from damage to public and private properties.

The offences covered under the two Bills have been aligned with the provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

On UCC, Adhikari said, "The committee has been formed under the chairmanship of Ranjana Desai. The Cabinet has given its approval and a notification has been issued in this regard. The committee has started working. We are hopeful to introduce this in the Assembly soon," Adhikari said.