West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, on Wednesday, launched a scathing attack on the BJP, accusing it of orchestrating communal tensions and pushing through "anti-people" laws in the state.
"I came across news reports claiming that elements from across the border were involved in the Murshidabad violence. Isn’t it the BSF’s responsibility to guard the boundary?” the TMC supremo asked. “If the Home Ministry has such inputs, then the central government is directly accountable.”
Alleging a larger conspiracy, Banerjee said the BJP had “planned to engineer riots during Ram Navami but failed.” She remarked, “I will not allow any division among people. I want unity, not unrest.”
Banerjee was speaking at a meeting with Muslim clerics in Kolkata.
The TMC has come under fire over the recent violence in the state, which erupted following the enactment of the Waqf (Amendment) Act earlier this month. Banerjee, breaking her silence on the matter, alleged that the recent unrest in Murshidabad was deliberately engineered and slammed the Centre for failing to secure the border.
Further underlining her commitment to maintaining communal harmony in the state, the Bengal CM noted, "We believe in Sarva Dharma Samabhava. I believe in Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, Swami Vivekananda... I request you to control if someone wants to create unrest in Bengal by getting agitated by the BJP's statement..."
She further stated, "I talk about all religions. Where does BJP go when we renovate Kaali Temple? When we celebrate Durga Puja, they say we don’t let people celebrate here. Saraswati Puja is celebrated in every household, and they say we don’t let this happen. Everyone should respect all religions, this is our tradition".
Calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to intervene, she said, “I appeal to PM Modi not to allow any atrocious law to pass and to keep a check on his Home Minister.”
Banerjee once again voiced strong opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, calling it unconstitutional and a threat to India’s federal structure. “This Act is against the federal framework of the country. The TMC is leading the fight against it in Parliament,” she asserted.
The Chief Minister also accused the BJP of bulldozing anti-people laws during its tenure at the Centre. “Once we remove BJP from power, we will recall all such anti-people Bills passed by them,” she declared.
She also attacked the Centre on economic issues: “Let them answer how many jobs have been created? Medicine, petrol, and diesel prices have shot up, but some 'godi media' only target Bengal.”
Banerjee urged the community to stay united and not fall prey to divisive politics. “Everyone - regardless of religion - has contributed to India’s progress. No one has the right to undermine our Constitution,” she said.
Banerjee further accused a section of the media of spreading misinformation. “Some BJP-funded channels are running fake videos to defame Bengal. We caught eight such videos – all from Karnataka, UP, Bihar, and Rajasthan. They should be ashamed,” she said.
She also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 10 lakh for the families of three individuals who lost their lives in the Murshidabad violence. Additionally, the CM stated that she would instruct the state's Chief Secretary to launch an investigation into the incident involving the Border Security Force (BSF), which resulted in the death of one individual.
Meanwhile, Leader of Opposition in Vidhan Sabha, Suvendu Adhikari, condemned the state government’s actions, calling for Banerjee’s resignation.
"There are protests across the state. The Hindu population is emotional; it is sad... The entire state is on the streets and observing Hindu Shaheed Diwas... Mamata should step down. She should go to jail... We are not coward Hindus, we are Hindus of Swami Vivekananda," Adhikari asserted.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has also held Banerjee responsible, accusing her of “inciting violence” through her vocal opposition to the law.
West Bengal, which houses over 80,480 Waqf properties — second only to Uttar Pradesh’s 2.2 lakh — has become a flashpoint following the passage of the contentious legislation earlier this month.
Protests against the Waqf Act turned violent across several parts of West Bengal, with violence rocking Murshidabad on Friday. The clashes, which erupted in the Suti, Dhulian, Samserganj, and Jangipur areas, have claimed the lives of at least three individuals and left several others injured.
What began as peaceful demonstrations quickly escalated into violent confrontations with widespread looting, arson, and property destruction.
According to Jangipur SP Ananda Roy, 273 people have been arrested so far in connection with the violence that has rocked the Suti, Dhulian, Samserganj, and Jangipur areas.
"The situation is under control and improving every minute. Shops are open, the public is moving about freely, and families who had fled are now returning," Roy said on Wednesday. He also confirmed detentions related to a recent father-son murder case in the district.
The National Commission for Women (NCW) has, in the meantime, taken suo motu cognisance amid reports of sexual assault during the riots in Mandirpara, Dhulian, under the Murshidabad district, shortly after Banerjee's address. NCW Chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has constituted an Inquiry Committee to probe allegations of women facing molestation during the unrest.
The Calcutta High Court, on April 11, directed both the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government and the central government to submit detailed reports on the ongoing unrest. The matter is set to be reviewed in a further hearing scheduled for April 17.
