“Will enter their homes and kill”: Abhishek Banerjee reacts to Pak’s Kolkata threat

Abhishek Banerjee on Monday sparked a major political row after warning that “we will enter their homes and kill them” if Mamata Banerjee and the INDIA alliance come to power, as he criticised the Centre’s response to Pakistan’s recent remarks targeting Kolkata.

Addressing an election rally in Siliguri, the Trinamool Congress leader referred to comments by Pakistan’s Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, who had suggested that Kolkata could be a target in the event of future hostilities between the two countries.

“Two days ago, Khawaja Asif said they would blow up Kolkata. Our Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defence Minister remained silent. I have written his name on my list. The day Mamata Banerjee and the INDIA alliance form a government, we will enter their homes and kill them,” Banerjee said.

He also took aim at Narendra Modi, accusing him of focusing on campaigning in Cooch Behar instead of responding to the threat. Banerjee further criticised Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh for what he described as their silence.

Pakistan’s remarks

Banerjee’s comments came after Asif said over the weekend that any future conflict with India would not remain confined to border areas. Speaking in Sialkot, he warned that if India carried out a “false flag” operation, Pakistan would “take it to Kolkata”.

He also alleged, without evidence, that India could stage such an operation using detainees, and escalated his rhetoric by saying the next round of conflict would extend beyond limited geography. “This time, the conflict will not remain limited. We will enter their territory and strike them inside their own homes,” he said.

India’s response and political flashpoint

While New Delhi has not directly responded to Asif’s latest remarks, Rajnath Singh recently said any “misadventure” by Pakistan would invite an “unprecedented and decisive” response.

Referring to the April 2025 terror attack in Pahalgam that killed 26 people, he said India’s actions had made its stance clear and that further provocations would be dealt with firmly.

The attack triggered a brief but intense military escalation, with India launching Operation Sindoor targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir using missiles and drones. Pakistan responded with artillery, drones and missile fire before a ceasefire was reached on May 10 following talks.

Banerjee’s remarks come amid heightened political activity in West Bengal, where the Trinamool Congress has repeatedly targeted the Centre over national security, while the BJP has accused the party of using aggressive rhetoric in its campaign.

Polling for the 294-member West Bengal Assembly is scheduled in two phases on April 23 and April 29, with counting set for May 4.