“Mamata Banerjee Is Supporting, Encouraging, and Inciting Violence”: BJP Slams Bengal CM Over Murshidabad Clashes

New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of “supporting, inciting and encouraging” the recent spate of violence during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act in Murshidabad and other parts of the state.

Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters in Delhi, party spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari held the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government responsible for the breakdown of law and order and alleged that the CM’s public opposition to the Waqf Act emboldened extremist elements.

“The chronology is clear, that after CM Banerjee stated publicly that she would oppose the Waqf legislation and her close aide and state minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury incited the mob by saying he is protected by the CM, the radical elements in the state received a message that they have Mamata Banerjee’s backing,” Bhandari claimed.

He further alleged that Mamata Banerjee had insulted Sanatan Dharma, calling it a “bad religion,” and questioned the silence and inaction of the police force despite repeated violence in the region.

“Why hasn’t the state police taken any action, despite there being intelligence and repeated violence in Murshidabad for the last few days? Because Mamata Banerjee wanted to give the message that the state is being used as a test lab for appeasement politics,” he said.

The BJP alleged that the Mamata Banerjee-led government is targeting Hindus and distracting attention from the ongoing school selection commission (SSC) scam. “If Mamata Banerjee fails to protect Hindus further, then our charge will prove right that she is supporting, encouraging, and inciting the violence,” Bhandari added.

Murshidabad, a Muslim-majority district, has remained tense over the past week as protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act spiraled into violent clashes. On April 8, a mob in Jangipur pelted stones at police personnel and set police vehicles ablaze, prompting authorities to impose Section 144 and suspend internet services.

On April 11, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose condemned the incidents and assured strict action. “Some people are taking law and order into their own hands in some parts of West Bengal. The state’s chief secretary has assured that the government is taking strong action against the miscreants and will not allow disturbances to escalate,” the governor said in a video message.