West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee during a meeting with leaders from the Muslim community regarding the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, in Kolkata, on Wednesday
| Photo Credit:
PTI
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday termed the recent violence in Murshidabad as “pre-planned” and alleged that the Border Security Force (BSF) and other Central agencies are facilitating cross-border influx from Bangladesh to create unrest in the State.
Protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act spiralled into major violence last week in Murshidabad district, where three people were killed and several others injured. The widespread violence has ignited a political firestorm in Bengal.
Addressing a gathering of Muslim religious leaders, Banerjee said if “outside” elements from Bangladesh were involved in the violence in Murshidabad, then the Central government should be held responsible.
She also accused Union Home Minister Amit Shah of “controlling” all Central agencies and “harming the nation for his own political agenda”. She urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “rein in” his Home Minister.
“I would request the Prime Minister to keep a check on Amit Shah. He is harming the country most to serve his political interests. Why is he (Shah) in such a hurry? He will never become the Prime Minister. And what will he do once Modi ji leaves? The PM must see how his Home Minister is misusing Central agencies. Modi ji must control him,” Banerjee said.
“I saw a tweet yesterday quoting Home Ministry sources that Bangladesh is involved in this (Murshidabad violence). If that is the case, the Central government is responsible since BSF guards the borders, not us. The State Government doesn’t have the responsibility to guard the borders,” said the CM.
Compensation of ₹10 lakh
She announced compensation for the victims in the violence. “The State government will pay ₹10 lakh each for families whose members were killed. Whoever’s residences were ransacked, the government will give them Banglar Bari, and those whose shops were vandalised, our chief secretary will assess the damage and compensate (them),” she said.
Banerjee, the Trinamool Congress supremo, urged the PM not to implement the “atrocious” Waqf (Amendment) Act, warning that it would divide the country.
She alleged that despite the volatile situation in neighbouring Bangladesh, the Centre rushed through the Waqf (Amendment) Act and allowed illegal cross-border infiltration. And, it contributed to the unrest in West Bengal.
Notably, in an urgent hearing last Saturday, the Calcutta High Court ordered the deployment of Central forces in Muslim-dominated Murshidabad district.
The opposition BJP alleged that over 400 people fled the violence-hit district for safety. “More than 400 Hindus from Dhulian, Murshidabad driven by fear of bigots were forced to flee across the river and take shelter at Par Lalpur High School, Deonapur-Sovapur GP, Baisnabnagar, Malda. Religious persecution in Bengal is real,” said leader of the Opposition in State Assembly Suvendu Adhikari.
“Appeasement politics of TMC has emboldened radical elements. Hindus are being hunted (down), our people are running for their lives in their own land! Shame on the State government for allowing this breakdown of law & order,” Adhikari added.
Published on April 16, 2025