BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya raised Kolkata Port land encroachment in the Rajya Sabha, citing the mayor’s remark calling the area “mini Pakistan”. Minister Shantanu Thakur confirmed encroachment and ongoing court cases, while TMC and opposition MPs protested the comment
-1770730009801_d.png "Union Budget Session 2026: BJP MP's “mini Pakistan” remark for encroached Kolkata Port land sparks uproar in RS")
BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya. Pic/X @SamikBJP
On Tuesday, BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya raised the issue of land encroachment at Kolkata Port in the Rajya Sabha. He highlighted that the area has been publicly referred to as “mini Pakistan” by Kolkata’s mayor, a statement that triggered strong reactions and uproar in the House as reported by PTI.
Minister of State for Ports, Shipping and Waterways, Shantanu Thakur, admitted that a significant portion of Kolkata Port’s land has been encroached, mostly by people linked to the ruling TMC government. The minister said that the port authority has filed court cases to recover the land, but enforcement has been difficult.Thakur said, “What the MP has said is right… people there have encroached all the place.”
Bhattacharya noted that Kolkata Port is the single largest landowner in the city, with nearly 4,000 acres, and that around 170 acres of prime port land is under illegal occupation, especially in Garden Reach, Metiabruz, and Khidirpur.
Row over “mini Pakistan” remark
Bhattacharya’s reference to the area as “mini Pakistan” drew protests from TMC members, who shouted slogans and created disruption in the House. Thakur confirmed that the mayor had used the term in public statements, adding that documentation exists to support this.
Opposition members, including Fauzia Khan (NCP-SP), demanded that the term be expunged from official records, saying it was inappropriate to label Indian citizens in such a manner. CPI-M MP John Brittas also criticized the remark, warning that calling it “mini Pakistan” could lead to diplomatic issues.
Broader land encroachment issue
Bhattacharya stressed that encroachment is a widespread problem, not limited to port land. “Whether it is the land of Indian Railways, whether it is the land of port, whether it is the land of DVC, or Farakka barrage... everywhere encroachment is going on,” he said, accusing the TMC of both encroaching public land and making controversial public statements as per PTI reports.
The discussion highlighted both the serious encroachment problem in Kolkata and the political tensions surrounding the “mini Pakistan” remark. While legal cases are ongoing to reclaim the land, enforcement remains a significant challenge.
(With PTI Inputs)
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