– Shabana Javed
Kolkata: During her speech at the Imam-Moazzen Conference held at Kolkata’s Netaji Indoor Stadium on Wednesday, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held Union Home Minister Amit Shah responsible for the recent unrest in Murshidabad. The violence, which erupted on Friday in the Suti and Samserganj areas during protests against the amended Waqf Act, resulted in the deaths of three individuals: Haragobindo Das, 72, and his son Chandan Das, 40, who were stabbed to death in Samserganj, and Ezaz Ahmed, 25, who was shot by security forces.
Banerjee alleged that the violence was part of a politically motivated conspiracy, accusing the BJP of spreading misinformation through technological means. She also criticised the role of central forces, including the Border Security Force (BSF), describing the events as a “planned disruption” intended to incite communal tensions across Bengal.
She appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to rein in the Home Minister’s actions, stating, “All agencies are in the hands of one person.” Without naming Shah directly, Banerjee claimed his influence was evident in the unfolding events and alleged that central agencies were being misused under his leadership.
The Chief Minister also questioned the timing of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, highlighting the political instability in neighbouring Bangladesh. “West Bengal shares a border with Bangladesh. What was the urgency?” she asked, suggesting that there may be covert arrangements between the Indian government and the interim leadership in Bangladesh.
Addressing concerns over the spread of fake news related to the Waqf controversy, Banerjee called for unity among all anti-BJP forces to oppose the amendments collectively. She urged minority communities to remain calm and patient, saying, “Wait for one year. There will be a change in Delhi. A new government will come, and I hope the man who crawls will not be part of it. We must then amend the Constitution and repeal all the laws introduced by the BJP.”
Banerjee also criticised the BJP’s push for a Uniform Civil Code, questioning its acceptance by other religious groups.
“We know you are anti-Muslim, but who do you meet in Saudi Arabia? Whose hospitality do you enjoy in Dubai and Kuwait? Who do you embrace there? This double standard will not hold,” she said.
