West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday (April 16, 2025) described the violence in Murshidabad as “pre-planned communal riots” and asserted that if foreign elements from Bangladesh were involved, the responsibility lies with the Union Government.
Speaking at a gathering of Imams and Muezzins in Kolkata, Ms. Banerjee said, “I saw a tweet yesterday citing Home Ministry sources, claiming Bangladesh’s involvement. If that’s true, the responsibility lies with the Centre since border security is handled by the BSF, not the State. It’s not the State government’s duty to guard the borders.”
Mamata urges Muslims to stay clear from BJP’s tactics
The Chief Minister also urged members of the Muslim community not to fall into the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) alleged attempts to incite violence. “The BJP is trying to create division so they can remove my government. But if they come to power, they won’t even let you eat,” she warned. Emphasizing communal harmony, she said Imams and Muezzins have a vital role in ensuring that “no one gets provoked by BJP’s statements.”
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Ms. Banerjee reiterated her party’s opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Act, highlighting that Trinamool Congress MPs had strongly opposed it in Parliament. She urged other INDIA bloc parties to protest the law and called for demonstrations in Delhi, assuring that TMC MPs would join. Criticizing the support extended by BJP allies—particularly Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party—she argued that the Act should have been passed like a Constitutional amendment, requiring a two-thirds majority.
Compensation for the victims of Murshidabad Violence
In response to the violence that broke out in Murshidabad’s Dhulian and Shamsherganj areas on April 11 and 12 during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, Ms. Banerjee announced a Rs10 lakh compensation for the families of those killed. She confirmed that three people died in the unrest and said that affected homes would be rebuilt under the “Banglar Bari”(Bengal’s home) scheme. Shopkeepers who suffered losses would also receive financial aid.
Due to the clashes, hundreds fled to the neighboring Malda district, and over 200 individuals were arrested for their alleged roles in the violence.
Ms. Banerjee noted that the violence occurred in areas represented by Congress MP Isha Khan Chowdhury, pointing out that Dhulian and Shamsherganj fall under the Malda Dakshin Lok Sabha constituency. “If the Trinamool Congress had any involvement, the homes of our three MLAs and our party office would not have been attacked,” she said.
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Mamata targets BJP on Waqf Act
Highlighting the proximity of the affected area to the Bangladesh border, the Chief Minister questioned the Centre’s urgency in implementing the Waqf (Amendment) Act. “Why this rush with the Waqf Act? Are you not aware of the situation in Bangladesh? Hold secret talks with Mohammad Yunus, the Chief Advisor to the interim Bangladesh government, if needed—but what is your actual plan?” she asked, accusing the BJP of fostering division and communal polarization.
Ms. Banerjee also hit back at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, calling on Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rein him in. “The Home Minister will never become the Prime Minister. I request Modi ji to control him—he controls all the central agencies,” she said.
Targeting Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Ms. Banerjee questioned the number of deaths during the Mahakumbh and in police encounters in UP. This came in response to Mr. Adityanath’s statement from April 15, accusing her of “supporting rioters in the name of secularism.”
