West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addresses the media in Murshidabad on Monday.
| Photo Credit:
PTI
Claiming that last month’s violence in Murshidabad was “well planned”, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday accused the BJP-led Centre of spreading communal tension and hatred.
The Chief Minister, who visited Murshidabad to take stock of the situation, said the State would not tolerate people who instigate communal violence. Her visit, the first since last month’s violence, drew sharp criticism from the BJP, which called it a delayed response.
“When I carry out any political activity, for me, Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs, and Christians are all equal. I don’t want people of any religion to be attacked. This incident was orchestrated and well planned. Those who provoked this violence — Bengal will not tolerate such people. I am not against anyone, but I am against riots,” Banerjee said.
“Some outsiders and a few religious leaders are trying to incite violence and animosity among communities. Those who are inciting riots are enemies of West Bengal,” the Trinamool Congress supremo said.
“Instead of inciting communal violence, efforts must be taken to protect our borders. When you are in the chair, you cannot divide the people on religious lines,” she added, hitting out at the Centre.
Protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act spiralled into major violence on April 11-12 in the Muslim-dominated Murshidabad district, where three people were killed and several others injured.
Chandan Das and his father Hargobind Das were hacked to death by a mob at the Jafrabad locality in Shamsherganj, Murshidabad district. Shamsherganj, Dhulian, and Suti witnessed widespread violence during the protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The violence has ignited a political firestorm in Bengal.
Banerjee earlier alleged that the Border Security Force (BSF) and other Central agencies were facilitating cross-border influxes from Bangladesh to create unrest in the State.
BJP leader Dilip Ghosh alleged that the Chief Minister’s visit to Murshidabad was delayed and should have taken place much earlier.
“Mamata Banerjee should have gone to Murshidabad earlier. Why didn’t she go? She called the Imams, conducted a meeting, and then went to attend a temple inauguration. But when Hindus were suffering and these atrocities took place repeatedly, Banerjee remained silent. She is visiting the violence-hit areas so late now that all the evidence has been removed,” Ghosh said.
BJP MP Samik Bhattacharya said there had been a “breakdown of constitutional machinery” in West Bengal and that the custodians of the Constitution should intervene.
“BJP believes that, through the democratic process, West Bengal will rid itself of the Trinamool Congress. What will Mamata Banerjee do now in Murshidabad? Because of her, Murshidabad faced the violence. Why has radicalisation increased in Bengal? How did Pakistani citizens enter the State?” Bhattacharya added.
Published on May 5, 2025
