NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday urged members of the minority community to remain united and not be misled by political provocations, amid growing unrest over the implementation of the Waqf Act, 2025.
Banerjee said the Waqf Act will not be implemented in Bengal.
Mamata also said she would protect minority communities and their property, while speaking at a ‘Navkar Mahamantra Divas’ programme in Kolkata.
“I know that you are pained by the Waqf property issue, but have faith that there will be no divide and rule in Bengal,” Banerjee said. “Please remember, Didi will protect you and your property. You should give the message of live and let live. It is our duty to protect all those living in Bengal.”
She added a cautionary note, urging community members not to fall into political traps. “If anyone provokes you to assemble politically, please don’t do it. If we stay together, then we can conquer the world.”
“See the situation in Bangladesh. This (Waqf Bill) should have not been passed now,” Banerjee said.
Banerjee accused the Centre of trying to divide the nation through “jumla” politics.
Earlier, the Bengal CM also took a jibe at BJP-led Centre, accusing it of pursuing a divisive agenda. “The jumla party’s only point is to divide the country. First learn to respect the Constitution, and then talk about taking away someone’s rights,” she said, rejecting the Waqf Act as part of a broader “divide and rule policy”.
Violent protests erupt in Murshidabad
Shortly after the Act came into force on Tuesday, violent protests broke out in Murshidabad, where demonstrators allegedly torched a police vehicle. The administration reportedly throttled internet access in the area to prevent the spread of misinformation.
BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya shared videos of the unrest—unverified by independent sources—and blamed Banerjee’s “politics of Muslim appeasement” for the situation. “The West Bengal Police is struggling to rein in the violent Islamist mob… possibly under instructions from home minister Mamata Banerjee herself,” he claimed in a post on X.
He further alleged that the protesters raised slogans rejecting the Constitution and demanded Banerjee’s resignation. “Her inflammatory speeches have directly contributed to the current unrest,” Malviya added.
Centre’s stand on Waqf Act
The Waqf Act, 2025, aims to streamline the management of Waqf properties through updated definitions, digital integration, and greater transparency. While the Centre defends it as a necessary reform, opposition leaders, including Banerjee, view it as a targeted law meant to curtail minority rights.
Protests against the Act were also reported in Manipur on Tuesday, where members of the Muslim community took to the streets opposing the Centre’s move.
