On Wednesday (3rd July), the Mayor of Kolkata Firhad Hakim stirred the hornet’s nest for deriding non-Muslims as ‘unfortunate’ and openly calling for their religious conversion to Islam.
Hakim, a Cabinet Minister in the West Bengal government and a close aide of Mamata Banerjee, made the contentious remarks during the ‘All India Quran Competition’ event at the Dhono Dhanyo Auditorium in Kolkata.
During his address, he claimed, “Those who were not born into Islam were born with misfortune. If we can give them Dawat (call for proselytism) and bring Iman (Faith) in them, then, we will make Allah happy.”
“We need to spread Islam among non-Muslims. If we can bring someone on the path of Islam, then, we will prove to be a true Muslims by ensuring the spread of Faith,” Firhad Hakim brazened out.
He further emphasised, “We showcase strength when thousands of people sit like this wearing skull caps. It shows unity and gives an assurance that none can subdue us.”
“Since we are born into Islam, Prophet and Allah made a clear path for us to Jannat. If we don’t commit any sins, we will directly go to Jaant,” the Kolkata Mayor was heard saying.
Firhad Hakim and his past controversies
This is not the first time when the Mayor of Kolkata has been in the news for the wrong reasons. In April 2016, he had dubbed a Muslim-dominated area of Kolkata as ‘Mini-Pakistan‘
In February 2021, he was spotted delivering a political speech at a masjid in Kolkata, in blatant violation of the Model Code of Conduct.
To pacify Muslim rioters during the anti-CAA movement, Firhad Hakim referred to them as ‘brothers.’ He was also seen referring to the Central Armed forces and the BJP as ‘Suar er baccha‘ (progency of pigs).
Hakim had openly endorsed the Urduisation of Bengal and claimed, “Inshallah, one day will come when half of the population of Bengal will speak Urdu and recite poetry.”
