Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, on Thursday demanded the formation of a 'Sanatan Board' on the lines of Waqf Board, a proposal that has stirred political debate in the state.

While addressing a gathering on Kolkata's Rani Rashmoni Road, he raised the issue of attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh, stating that Hindus of West Bengal should learn lessons from the atrocities in the neighbouring country.

"Just like the Waqf Board looks after the interests of Muslims in India, the country needs a dedicated 'Sanatan Board' to safeguard the rights and interests of Hindus," he said.

The call for a 'Sanatan Board' has raised eyebrows, as it comes in the midst of rising political tensions in West Bengal over issues of religious identity and minority rights.

The BJP, to which Adhikari belongs, has consistently accused Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress (TMC) of appeasing Muslim voters at the cost of Hindu interests, a charge vehemently denied by the TMC.

The suggestion to form a 'Sanatan Board' has been supported by several BJP leaders, who argue it will ensure the welfare and preservation of Hindu culture, religious practices, and temples across India.

However, the proposal has drawn sharp criticism from political rivals, including the TMC, which has termed it as an attempt to deepen communal divide in the state.

In response to Adhikari's remarks, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh questioned the motives behind the suggestion.

"This is nothing but a political stunt to provoke communal tension and gain political mileage. West Bengal has always been a land of communal harmony, and we will not allow anyone to disrupt that peace," Ghosh said.

The demand by Adhikari comes just two days after a resolution urging withdrawal of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill 2024 was passed by voice vote in the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday, even as BJP legislators staged a walkout opposing it.

The resolution, moved by minister Sovandeb Chattopadhyay, claimed that the Bill, if passed, will affect the Waqf administration in the country and as such, extreme caution and due diligence are needed before any such drastic change is affected in the existing law.

BJP members staged a walkout from the House during discussion on the resolution.

The central government's Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, has sparked widespread debate, with opposition parties and minority organisations alleging that it seeks to centralise control over Waqf properties, undermining states' rights and the community's autonomy.

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