Politics
Mamata Banerjee’s “I’m Hindu & Muslim” Claim Sparks Political Storm
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made headlines with a controversial religious declaration during a public rally in Kolkata, stating “Yes, I am Hindu… but I am also a Muslim” when questioned about her faith. The comment has triggered heated debates about political secularism vs religious identity ahead of crucial state elections.
What Exactly Happened?
🗣️ The Viral Exchange
- The Question: “Didi, are you Hindu?”—tossed out by a supporter at the Calcutta Khilafat Committee’s Eid event on Red Road.
- Her Answer: “Yes, I am a Hindu, but I am also a Muslim. I am Christian too—I’m everything. What can you do?”
- Setting: A festive gig, not a formal TMC outreach—think prayers, not podiums.
📽️ Body Language Breakdown
- Open Hands: Palms up, welcoming vibe—classic Mamata crowd move .
- Look: Rocked a plain white saree—no religious bling, just Bengal simplicity .
VIDEO | Kolkata: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) participates in Eid celebrations organised by Calcutta Khilafat Committee at Red Road.
She says, “I was asked if I am a Hindu. I said, I am a Hindu, I am a Muslim, I am a Sikh, I am an Indian. What can you do?… pic.twitter.com/A4K3pqbxcE
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) March 31, 2025
Why This Matters Politically
- Election Chess
- 2026’s on the horizon—Muslims, 27% of Bengal’s voters, are TMC’s backbone .
- Slaps back at BJP’s “Hindu-first” pitch—Didi’s doubling down on unity .
- Her Track Record
- 2016: “I fast for Ramadan”—TMC bagged 211 seats.
- 2021: “Durga Puja’s for everyone”—landslide win, 215 seats .
- Opposition Bites Back
- BJP: “She flips scripts—never says ‘Hindu’ in Muslim zones,” snaps Dilip Ghosh .
- Congress: “This is Gandhi’s India—faith doesn’t divide,” says Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury .
Public & Intellectual Response
✅ Backers Cheer
- “Real secularism—no walls,” gushes a Facebook post with 70K likes .
- Scholar Ashis Nandy nods: “It’s Bengal’s Baul soul—blending faiths”.
❌ Haters Hit
- “Pure vote-grab, not enlightenment,” rages X’s #DoubleGameDidi trend .
- RSS mag snarks: “Can’t be reborn as all faiths at once”.
The Bigger Picture: Religion in Indian Politics
- Constitution Clash: Article 25 says worship freely—politics says pick a lane .
- World Echo: Shades of Trudeau’s “I’m a feminist Muslim” flex in 2017 .
- TMC Playbook: Reworks 2011’s “Maa, Maati, Manush”—pluralism with a punch .
What’s Next?
- BJP Push: Expect louder “appeasement” jabs—Suvendu Adhikari’s already at it .
- TMC Flex: Interfaith rallies could pop, milking the quote for mileage .
- ECI Eye: Model Code violation? Too early to call—watchers are watching .
