- By Raju Kumar
- Wed, 16 Apr 2025 04:09 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Bengal Waqf Act Protest: West Bengal turned into a full-fledged political battleground as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) opened a front against Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress (TMC) post-violence over the Waqf Amendment Act, brought by the Modi government aiming transparency into the Muslim body to manage land related properties. The violent protests led by some local Muslim organisations affected people in several districts, mainly in Murshidabad, Malda and North 24 Parganas. The BJP claimed that hundreds of Hindu families have been attacked during the protests, leading to take shelter in schools.
Bengal Elections & BJP's Strategies
The West Bengal Assembly election is yet far away but, the saffron party is trying to set the tone for the upcoming poll battle. The assembly election is due in March-April 2026. Recent elections showed that communal cards go in favour of the saffron party. This time the BJP left no stone unturned to narrate the Mamata government as anti-Hindu. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister on Tuesday added fuel to fire by making a statement that 'laaton ke bhoot baaton sen nahi manaten' (Rude people don’t understand soft language). He was speaking about Murshidabad protesters. The indication is clear that the BJP will have a familiar traditional hardline on Hindutiva in West Bengal.
"Pre-Planned": Mamata Hits Back At BJP
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday termed the recent communal violence in Murshidabad as "pre-planned". She accused a section of the BSF, central agencies, and the BJP of fanning tension by allegedly facilitating cross-border influx from Bangladesh. The chief minister urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to implement the "atrocious" Waqf (Amendment) Act, warning that it would divide the country. She also requested the prime minister to rein in Home Minister Amit Shah, whom she accused of “harming the nation most for his own political agenda”.
The TMC supremo alleged the centre allowed illegal cross-border infiltration which caused the unrest in Bengal.
“I came across news claiming the role of elements from across the border in Murshidabad unrest. Is it not the role of the BSF to guard the border? The state government does not guard the international border. The Central government can't evade responsibility. I will find out whom the BSF had financed in the border areas by paying money to local youths to pelt stones during the violence,” the CM said.
BJP Questions Banerjee's Stand On Waqf Amendment Act
BJP MP Ravi Shankar Prasad targeted Banerjee, asking her whether she has issues over women being given representation in the Waqf board. He further asked Banerjee whether she had a problem with "backward" Muslims being given a seat in the Waqf board.
"I want to raise some big questions for Mamata Banerjee. First, if women are being given a place in the Waqf Board, in the centre, and all the states, do you have a problem with that? Second, if backward Muslims are getting representation in the Waqf Board, do you have a problem with that?" Prasad said while addressing a press conference.
(With agencies inputs)