On Saturday (20th July), West Bengal Minister and Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim alleged that the UP government’s recent order directing eateries to display names of owners and operators is “wrong”. He alleged that “Injustice” was taking place in UP. He argued that people should not look for the religious identity of others as all are human beings first.
It is pertinent to note that earlier this week, the Muzaffarnagar administration asked hotels, dhabas, carts, hawkers, etc selling food on the Kanwar Yatra route, to display the names of their owners and operators. Later, the Uttar Pradesh government issued the order throughout the state. The development comes in the wake of allegations that several miscreants used false Hindu names to run their eateries which often led to a law and order situation. The administration noted that the order was issued to curb such incidents, AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi and Islamists gave it communal colour to allege discrimination on grounds of religion.
Speaking to ANI about this order of the UP government, TMC leader, Firhad Hakim said, “This is wrong, injustice is happening in Uttar Pradesh. Who is a Muslim, who is a Hindu, if someone sells something, he is a human being first and if someone has to buy, he will buy it…”
#WATCH | On the instructions to put 'nameplates' on food shops on Kanwar routes in Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal Minister & Kolkata Municipal Corporation Mayor Firhad Hakim says, "This is wrong, injustice is happening in Uttar Pradesh. Who is a Muslim, who is a Hindu, if someone… pic.twitter.com/5D986xtiwI
— ANI (@ANI) July 20, 2024
Conspicuously, Hakim, a Cabinet Minister in the West Bengal government and a close aide of Mamata Banerjee opposed the UP government’s order claiming that everyone is a Human first. Strikingly, earlier this month, on 3rd July, he stirred the hornet’s nest after he derided non-Muslims as ‘unfortunate’ and openly called for their religious conversion to Islam.
Hakim made these 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
In April 2016, he 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, the TMC leader referred to them as ‘brothers.’ He was also seen referring to the Central Armed Forces and the BJP as ‘Suar er baccha‘ (progeny 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.”
