TMC leader threatens opposition with violent remarks, faces backlash from BJP and CPM

Abdur Rahim Boxi, the district president of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in Malda, has found himself at the center of controversy after making violent threats against opposition leaders during a victory celebration following his party’s success in the recent by-elections. While addressing TMC workers at the party office, Boxi threatened to “break the teeth” and “tear out the tongue” of anyone who spoke ill of TMC leadership, particularly Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her nephew, Abhishek Banerjee. His comments were made in the context of celebrating TMC’s victory in six assembly constituencies, where the party won all the contested seats.

Boxi’s remarks, made in an impassioned speech, were aimed at both the opposition parties and their leaders, particularly the CPM. He stated, “The people of West Bengal have thwarted the opposition's conspiracy and gifted these six seats to Mamata Banerjee,” referring to the outcome of the by-elections. He also sharply criticized the CPM for its poor performance in the elections, claiming that in one of the seats, the party had received fewer votes than the value of a note. “The shameless CPM got fewer votes than a note in one of the seats,” Boxi remarked, further ridiculing the party's standing in the state.

Boxi’s threats were directed at any opposition leader who would speak out against Mamata Banerjee or Abhishek Banerjee, two prominent figures in the TMC. He warned, “If anyone dares to utter bad words against Mamata Banerjee or Abhishek Banerjee again, I will break their 32 teeth and tear out their tongue.” These comments have sparked strong reactions from opposition parties, particularly from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), who have condemned Boxi's choice of words and his call for violence.

The BJP has sharply criticized Boxi’s remarks, accusing him of using threatening language that goes against democratic values. A BJP leader stated, “Boxi’s words are uneducated. He should try making such threats without police protection and see how much strength he truly has.” BJP members have further accused Boxi of promoting a culture of fear and violence rather than engaging in respectful political debate. They also emphasized that such comments could further exacerbate political tensions in the state ahead of the crucial 2024 general elections.

The CPM, too, expressed strong disapproval of Boxi’s comments, emphasizing the need for a functioning democratic system where the opposition has the right to criticize the government. A CPM spokesperson said, “In a democracy, the opposition’s job is to hold the government accountable. The role of the government is to ensure the survival and rights of the opposition.” The CPM further criticized Boxi for not respecting these democratic principles, accusing him of political immaturity and undermining the democratic process by calling for violence against opposition members.

Boxi’s remarks have contributed to the already tense political atmosphere in West Bengal, where political rivalries between the TMC and opposition parties, including the BJP and CPM, have been intensifying. The TMC’s victory in all six by-election seats, seen by many as a significant achievement for the party, has further fueled the competition, with both the ruling party and the opposition parties preparing for a challenging electoral battle in the upcoming 2024 general elections and the 2026 state assembly elections.