‘Mini Pakistan’ reference in Rajya Sabha kicks up a row

NEW DELHI: A political row erupted in RS Tuesday during Question Hour after BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya raised encroachment of Kolkata Port land and said the area had been publicly referred to as “mini Pakistan” by the Kolkata mayor, a Trinamool MLA.Amid protests from opposition MPs, particularly TMC, MoS ports, shipping and waterways Shantanu Thakur admitted a large portion of port land has been encroached upon, cases have been filed in court, but the authority is unable to get the land vacated. TMC members protested in the aisle, while NCP-SP’s Fauzia Khan urged the chairman to expunge the phrase. Later, CPM’s John Brittas quipped that if Bhattacharya calls the area ‘mini Pakistan’, “Islamabad will demand that territory.” TNN