BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya on Sunday launched a blistering attack on the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and its MP Kalyan Banerjee over remarks made in Parliament, accusing him of echoing Pakistan’s narrative and mocking India’s armed forces.
During a recent session, Banerjee referred to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) as ‘Pakistan-Governed Azad Kashmir,’ a term heavily loaded with geopolitical implications. The phrase, more commonly used by Pakistan to assert its claim over the region, has no place in the lexicon of Indian political discourse, let alone inside the sanctum of Indian democracy.
But Banerjee didn’t stop there.
In what critics are calling an insensitive display, he went on to mimic India’s security forces, mock intelligence operations, and suggest with a giggle that terrorists from Pakistan simply ‘come, kill, and leave,’ reducing real acts of terror and martyrdom to a punchline.
It was this combination of flippancy and provocation that drew the ire of BJP IT Cell Chief Amit Malviya, who launched a scathing attack on the MP’s conduct.
‘Pakistan is celebrating today- courtesy of Trinamool Congress,’ Malviya wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
‘Despite being crushed in Operation Sindoor, Pakistan has found a strange ally in TMC,’ he added, referencing India’s successful counter-terror operation.
‘This isn’t dissent. This is disgrace. Is the TMC representing India’s voice or Pakistan’s propaganda?’ he asked pointedly.
Pradeep Bhandari, Spokesperson of BJP also took it to X (formerly twitter) and questioned ‘if this is not anti-national intent, then what is’. He wrote that it is shameful and an insult to our forces.
Crossing the Line Between Satire and Sabotage
Democracy allows for criticism. Parliament thrives on debate. But there is a line, and Kalyan Banerjee may have leapt across it.
His use of mimicry and laughter to depict national security failures doesn’t qualify as satire; it borders on sabotage. When a sitting MP uses Pakistan’s terminology for PoK, dismisses the efforts of intelligence agencies, and trivializes the sacrifices of Indian soldiers, the damage isn’t just rhetorical, it’s reputational. Kalyan Banerjee is known for being a habitual offender, recently he was filmed mocking Vice President Jagdeep Dhankar outside parliament.
As of now, there has been no apology or clarification from either Banerjee or the TMC high command. In the face of national outrage, silence in moments like these. suggests either indifference or quiet endorsement. Neither is reassuring. While opposition parties are well within their rights to question the government, even sharply, dragging national security into political theater is not only reckless but potentially dangerous.
A Time for Accountability
India’s Parliament is not a stage for performance art. It is the highest platform for national discourse. If elected representatives cannot distinguish between legitimate criticism and thoughtless provocation, perhaps the electorate needs to remind them.
Words carry weight. And sometimes, they carry consequences.
If the TMC wants to be taken seriously on the national stage, it must make clear whether Banerjee’s comments represent a personal lapse in judgment or a party-wide free fall into rhetorical chaos. Either way, the country deserves an answer.