Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, Suvendu Adhikari, sparked controversy on Friday (July 11, 2025), advising tourists—especially Bengalis—to avoid Muslim-majority areas such as Kashmir, in the wake of the April Pahalgam terror attack that killed 26 people, mostly tourists. His remarks came just a day after Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah met West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in Kolkata and extended an invitation for her to visit the Union Territory, which she accepted.

“Don’t go to places where Muslims are in the majority. If you must visit Jammu and Kashmir, go to Jammu. Avoid places like Pahalgam. Tourists were targeted based on their religion. Your life should be your top priority,” Adhikari told reporters.

Abdullah had earlier stated that tourism in Jammu and Kashmir was rebounding and expressed hope for a positive future.

Adhikari suggested alternative destinations like Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Odisha, describing them as safer and more suitable for travel.

His comments drew strong condemnation from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC). State Minister Shashi Panja criticised the statement as “disgraceful” and accused Adhikari of echoing the rhetoric of the terrorists who carried out the Pahalgam attack. “This is a deliberate act of communal provocation,” she said.

The TMC also issued a scathing post on X (formerly Twitter), asking if Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar endorsed Adhikari’s remarks. The post claimed that the BJP leader had played into the hands of terrorists by discouraging travel to Kashmir.

Prime Minister Modi had earlier condemned the Pahalgam attack, saying it was meant to provoke communal tensions and harm the livelihoods of Kashmiris dependent on tourism.

The controversy follows recent remarks by Samik Bhattacharya, the new BJP West Bengal chief, who urged “open-minded, progressive, nationalist Muslims” to support the party ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.