Adhikari explicitly tied his warning to tourist safety by citing the Pahalgam terror attack of 22 April, in which 26 people—several from Bengal among them—were killed. He advised Bengalis to avoid Muslim-majority destinations, instead suggesting safer alternatives such as Jammu, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Odisha.
Trinamool leaders dismissed his comments as incendiary, stating that discouraging travel to Kashmir serves the terrorists’ aim of crippling the economy, particularly tourism, which remains a lifeline for the region. They questioned whether figures at the centre support Adhikari’s divisive messaging.
In a strongly worded statement on X, Trinamool claimed Adhikari was “speaking like terrorists” and wagged a finger at the Centre’s top brass—Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Shah and External Affairs Minister Jaishankar—demanding clarification on whether they condone such rhetoric.
Political analysts suggest Adhikari’s language may reflect deliberate communal polarisation aimed at consolidating the BJP’s core base ahead of the Bengal assembly elections scheduled in 2026. His warnings echo prior statements calling for the removal of the word “secular” from the Constitution, further illuminating the overtly religious contours increasingly defining campaign discourse.
A TMC spokesperson noted that Adhikari’s remarks follow a pattern within the BJP of encouraging Hindu-Muslim division, citing the Union Home Minister’s own remarks in Bengal as evidence. Meanwhile, opposition parties stress that such comments deepen communal distrust and undermine India’s pluralistic ethos.
Despite the backlash, Adhikari’s hardline approach appears to reflect strategic political positioning rather than a retreat. His statement contrasts sharply with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s recent call urging people to visit Jammu and Kashmir, emphasising confidence in security and solidarity with the region.