The West Bengal Assembly’s budget session witnessed a sharp political confrontation on Friday after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) legislator Agnimitra Paul made controversial remarks on madrasa education. The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongly objected, accusing her of attempting to link the minority community with crime. The uproar led to repeated disruptions and adjournments of the House proceedings.
During the discussion on the interim state budget, Agnimitra Paul questioned the financial assistance being provided by the state government to madrasas, arguing that it was not leading to any real educational or social upliftment of the minority community. She claimed that these institutions were not producing doctors, engineers, or teachers, but that a section of youth was instead “drifting towards crime.” Her remarks immediately triggered tension in the House.
TMC legislators united in strong protest, terming the statement communal and derogatory. Cabinet Minister and Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, along with senior minister Shobhandeb Chattopadhyay, submitted a written objection to Assembly Speaker Biman Banerjee, demanding action. Taking note of the gravity of the situation, the Speaker intervened and ordered that Agnimitra Paul’s controversial remarks be expunged from the official proceedings of the House.
Responding in the Assembly, Firhad Hakim said that linking any community or educational system with crime was not only unconstitutional but also dangerous for social harmony. He asserted that such language had no place in a democratic setup and demanded that Paul withdraw her statement.
Later, speaking to the media, Hakim accused the BJP legislator of crossing the limits of public decorum. He said the minority community had made significant contributions to India’s freedom struggle and nation-building. Citing former President Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam and national poet Kazi Nazrul Islam, Hakim remarked that history itself refuted such allegations.
State Minister for Mass Education Extension and Library Services Siddiqullah Chowdhury also reacted strongly to the controversy. He said that studying in a madrasa does not turn anyone into a criminal and that such remarks warranted a public apology. Chowdhury further highlighted that every year hundreds of Muslim students in Bengal succeed in mainstream competitive examinations, particularly joint entrance tests, reflecting the educational progress of the minority community.
The BJP, however, defended its legislator, arguing that her remarks were aimed at questioning the effectiveness of the education system and government expenditure, not at targeting any community. The party maintained that debating educational outcomes should not be given a communal colour.
The controversy surrounding madrasas, minority education, and political rhetoric has emerged as a major issue during the budget session. The escalating confrontation between the ruling TMC and the opposition BJP is not only disrupting the functioning of the Assembly but is also exposing a growing political divide in the state. Political sparring over the issue is expected to intensify in the coming days.
