West Bengal Assembly Leader of the Opposition and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari made a controversial statement on December 22, calling for India to take action against Bangladesh similar to Israel’s military operations in Gaza. Speaking outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, he stated, “India should do to Bangladesh what Israel did to Gaza.” He referred to the actions taken by Israel, suggesting that the Indian government should emulate them and “teach a lesson (to Bangladesh) like Operation Sindoor,” which he previously identified.
These comments were made in the context of ongoing demonstrations outside the Bangladesh Deputy High Commission following the killing of Deepu Chandra Das in Bangladesh.
In response, the All India Trinamool Congress criticized the BJP, alleging that the party has turned hate and intolerance into an art form. They labeled Adhikari as a “venomous loudmouth” and accused him of revealing his “fascist fangs” by advocating for a violent approach toward Muslims, paralleling Israel’s actions in Gaza. They condemned his remarks as “naked hate speech” and a call for mass murder, highlighting the lack of legal repercussions for such statements by saying, “No FIR. No arrest. No prosecution. No UAPA.” The party described him as a “Hitler-in-the-making” and urged voters to remember his words during the next elections.
Journalist Azad Essa commented on the remarks, stating that it has become commonplace for the Hindu right wing to invoke Israel when discussing punitive measures against Muslims. He noted the troubling normalization of such rhetoric.
Further scrutiny came from journalist Vinod Sharma, who questioned whether Adhikari’s comments reflected the Indian government’s stance, suggesting that the BJP leader should be held accountable for his language. Sushant Singh, a Yale lecturer and editor at The Caravan, emphasized the seriousness of Adhikari’s position as a senior BJP leader from a state bordering Bangladesh, highlighting the potential diplomatic implications of his words.
Adhikari has previously faced criticism for anti-Muslim remarks, asserting that if the BJP takes power in West Bengal in 2026, Trinamool Congress Muslim MLAs would be removed from the Assembly. He has also claimed that the BJP’s poor electoral performance in West Bengal is due to a lack of support from the Muslim community, advocating for a slogan that emphasizes loyalty to those who support Hindus.
Since the escalation of Israel’s conflict in Gaza on October 7, 2023, over 71,266 Palestinians have reportedly been killed, and more than 171,219 have been injured, according to Gaza health authorities. The Narendra Modi-led BJP government has encountered significant backlash for its perceived support of Israel amid the violence in Gaza. The Indian National Congress, led by figures such as Sonia Gandhi, has criticized Modi’s “shameful silence” on the situation, accusing him of moral cowardice and betraying India’s historical position on Palestine.
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