Bengal News: Hakim reportedly said, “Those who are not born in Islam are unfortunate. They are born with bad luck. We have to bring them into the fold of Islam.”
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Bengal minister and Kolkata mayor Firhad Hakim’s remarks at the ‘All India Quran Competition’ held in early July had stirred controversy.
Hakim had reportedly said, “Those who are not born in Islam are unfortunate. They are born with misfortune. We have to bring them into the fold of Islam.” He clarified amid the controversy over his statement, claiming that his remarks were ‘misinterpreted’ and he did not intend to hurt anyone.
West Bengal Urban Development Minister Hakim, while speaking in the Assembly on Thursday, said that he is a Muslim but regularly organizes Durga Puja and Kali Puja.
Hakim’s remarks in July were opposed by BJP MLAs. Whenever Hakim stood up to present his views in the assembly, BJP MLAs would walk out of the house protesting against his remarks. Hakim said, “It is very unfortunate to see that whenever I stand up to answer a question, they walk out of the house.
If any of my remarks are being misinterpreted, what can I do? Can the people present here, including (BJP’s) chief whip Dr. Shankar Ghosh, tell me whether they consider me a secular person or not? Everyone knows that I am secular. It is not right to politicise my remarks made at an event outside this house.”
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‘I am secular…’
He said, “I have never insulted people of any other religion and I will never do so till my last breath. I respect people of other religions. I belong to Islam but have been regularly organizing Durga Puja and Kali Puja.
My comments are being unnecessarily politicized. I had no intention to hurt anyone. I was born in a secular family and will remain so in future too.”
Leader of Opposition Shubhendu Adhikari said that he agrees with the way Hakim clarified his statement. Adhikari said, “You were invited to that function as a mayor and a minister. I am not saying what you said there.
The first part of your speech was fine, but in the second part you invited people of other religions to join the religion you believe in. We do not want you to apologize, but we want you to apologize to those whose sentiments have been hurt.”
Hakim said that he went there because he was invited as a representative of a particular religion.