Kolkata, 1 October (H.S.) — Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, launched a scathing attack on the Mamata Banerjee-led government after videos and photographs surfaced showing a schedule of Azaan timings displayed inside a Durga Puja pandal in Murshidabad district.

Adhikari claimed that the incident took place at the Purba Shibtala Durga Puja Pandal in Maheshpur Panchayat, Farakka town, an area with a significant minority population. Sharing the visuals on his official social media handle, he accused the state government of indulging in “appeasement politics” at the cost of Hindu faith and traditions.

“Mamata Banerjee’s appeasement politics have forced Hindus to compromise in Farakka. West Bengal has been witnessing an unprecedented assault on Hindu faith and culture under her misrule. In Farakka, a shocking sight has emerged — a schedule for Azaan timings displayed inside a Durga Puja pandal,” Adhikari alleged in his post.

Hindusthan Samachar, however, clarified that the authenticity of the videos and photographs could not be independently verified.

Murshidabad has been a sensitive region in recent times. Earlier this year, parts of the district witnessed widespread unrest and violent clashes following protests over the newly introduced Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Adhikari alleged that Hindus, already a minority in Murshidabad, were being forced to live under “oppressive conditions,” drawing parallels with what he described as the “Muhammad Yunus model” from neighboring Bangladesh.

“Such a disgraceful scene was unimaginable even during British rule. But under Mamata Banerjee’s regime, we are being humiliated in our own land,” he said.

The BJP leader further claimed that fundamentalist elements had become emboldened under the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government, leading to restrictions on Hindu festivals and even incidents of idol vandalism.

“One has to follow unreasonable dictates, or face attacks on puja pandals and desecration of idols — incidents that have become all too common in Mamata Banerjee’s Bengal,” he said.

Issuing a strong warning ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, Adhikari asserted:

“If this anti-Hindu TMC government is not defeated in 2026, today’s shameful scene in Farakka will spread like cancer across West Bengal. Tomorrow, they may even object to idol worship itself. Let us not forget, Hindus were once forced to pay the Jizya tax in their own land. History must not be allowed to repeat itself.”

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh