Kolkata | July 11, 2025: In a highly charged political statement, West Bengal Leader of Opposition and senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari has sparked nationwide controversy by urging Bengalis not to visit Kashmir or any Muslim-majority region, citing safety concerns.
His remarks came in response to Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s recent call inviting people from West Bengal to explore the scenic beauty and hospitality of the Union Territory.
Speaking in Kolkata, Adhikari said, “No Bengali will visit Kashmir. I am saying this out of party affiliation—don’t visit places where Muslims are in the majority. Go to Jammu if you are going to visit J&K. Body parts and sindoor were checked before killing. Go to Himachal Pradesh, it is Dev Bhoomi. Go to Uttarakhand and Odisha. Your life is your priority. Protect your lives, children and women.”
The BJP leader’s comments follow the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam, in which tourists from West Bengal were targeted. The incident triggered political and public reactions across the country, but Adhikari’s communal tone has drawn strong criticism.
Leaders from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) slammed the statement, calling it “a calculated act of communal provocation.” TMC spokespersons argued that discouraging tourism to Kashmir aligns with the terrorists’ goals of isolating the region economically and socially. “Kashmir belongs to every Indian. Such divisive rhetoric must be condemned,” said a party leader.
In Srinagar, political observers and civil society members expressed concern over the implications of Adhikari’s message on national unity. “Such statements do more harm than good. Kashmir is not a religious battleground—it’s a shared cultural and natural heritage,” a local analyst told Kashmir Pen.
Meanwhile, CM Omar Abdullah has yet to issue a formal response, but party sources indicate that the government remains committed to promoting inter-regional tourism and cultural exchange as a tool for peace and economic development.
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