Violence in West Bengal Over Waqf Law Sparks Political Turmoil, Calls for President’s Rule Intensify

Kolkata: Political tensions in West Bengal are escalating over the newly enacted Waqf law, with increasing calls for the imposition of President’s rule in the state. The situation has ignited a firestorm of political speculation, especially as the state prepares for high-stakes elections next year. Amid rising unrest, political analysts are pointing to a series of key events in New Delhi over the past 24 hours as potential signals of significant political developments in the near future.

Among the notable events, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s undisclosed meeting with President Droupadi Murmu and the postponement of the launch of the Vande Bharat train to Srinagar by Modi himself from Katra have drawn attention. Additionally, the meeting of BJP President JP Nadda with senior ministers Amit Shah and Rajnath Singh has led to speculation about strategic political discussions in light of the volatile situation in West Bengal.

These developments come after the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, raised alarms about the state’s law and order situation. Adhikari accused the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government of allowing communal violence to flourish, claiming that in areas with Hindu minorities, people are being prevented from voting. He also alleged that local police forces were acting like “cadres of the ruling party.”

In response, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a counterattack against the BJP. She described the recent communal violence in Murshidabad as “pre-planned” and accused the BJP of inflaming tensions by facilitating the influx of individuals from Bangladesh, allegedly with the help of certain members of the Border Security Force (BSF) and central agencies.

Banerjee also took the opportunity to strongly oppose the new Waqf law, which she called “atrocious.” She appealed directly to the Prime Minister, urging him not to implement the law and to rein in Home Minister Amit Shah, whom she accused of causing harm to the nation for political gain. Banerjee’s remarks came during a meeting with Muslim religious leaders in Kolkata, highlighting the growing political divide in the state.

The BJP, which has been striving to make significant inroads into West Bengal since the formation of the Modi government in 2014, has repeatedly accused the TMC of neglecting the safety of Hindus. Despite this, the BJP has generally refrained from calling for President’s rule in the state, a stark contrast to previous administrations where such measures were frequently used. However, the situation in Manipur earlier this year, where President’s rule was imposed due to ongoing violence, has led to growing speculation that the Centre may consider similar action in West Bengal if law and order continue to deteriorate.