Violence in Murshidabad ‘pre-planned’, says West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee
CM Mamata Banerjee during a meeting with Imams and Muezzins urged Muslims not to fall into the trap of the Bharatiya Janata Party and indulge in violence on the streets; announces ₹10 lakh as compensation to victims of the violence
The Trinamool Congress chairperson urged members of the Muslim community not to fall into the trap of the Bharatiya Janata Party and indulge in violence on the streets. “The BJP wants to polarise so that my government is removed from power. Once they come to power, they won’t even allow you to eat,” the Chief Minister said. Ms. Banerjee said that imams and muezzins have a responsibility to ensure that “no one gets enraged by what the BJP says”.
Also read:Petitions seek probe into anti-Waqf law violence in Bengal
The Trinamool chairperson further said that her MPs fought against The Waqf ( Amendment) Bill and urged the parties of the Opposition INDIA bloc to fight against the Act. She said that protests should be held in Delhi and added that her party MPs will join the protests. Questioning the allies of the BJP, particularly Chandrababu Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party, for supporting the passage of the Act, the Chief Minister said that the Waqf (Amendment) Act should have been passed like a Constitutional amendment with two-third majority.
“I will appeal to INDIA team: let us be united and let us fight together boldly. This is not an individual matter; it will affect each and everybody. Today, they are doing against one group. Tomorrow, they will target another. They are talking about Uniform Civil Code after this…,” Ms Banerjee said.
Compensation to riot victims
The Chief Minister announced ₹10 lakh compensation to the families of those killed in violence. Three persons had lost their lives in the violence and several houses were attacked, Ms. Banerjee said, adding that the State government will construct new houses under Banglar Bari scheme and shopkeepers who have suffered losses will be compensated.
Violence had erupted over protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act in Dhulian and Shamsherganj areas of Murshidabad on April 11 and 12. Hundreds of people have taken refuge in adjoining Malda district to escape violence. More than 200 persons have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the violence.
Ms. Banerjee said that the areas where the violence occurred, Dhulian and Shamsherganj, fall under the Malda Dakshin Lok Sabha seat represented by Congress MP Isha Khan Chowdhury. “Had Trinamool Congress been involved, houses of three MLAs would not have been targeted... our party office would not have been attacked,” she said.
The West Bengal Chief Minister also highlighted that the area where violence occurred is close to the international border with Bangladesh and asked why the Union government was in a hurry in implementing the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
“Why is the Government of India in such a hurry on Waqf (Amendment) Act? Are you not aware of the situation in Bangladesh... Have secret meetings with Mohammad Yunus [Chief Advisor to interim government of Bangladesh] if it helps our country... What are your plans?” Ms. Banerjee asked accusing the BJP of creating polarisation
Mamata hits back at Shah, Yogi
During her address, the Chief Minister launched a scathing attack on Union Home Minister Amit Shah and urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “control him”. Ms. Banerjee said that the “Home Minister will never become the Prime Minister” and asked why he was in a hurry. “I will request Modi ji to control him. The powers of all the Central agencies wrests with him,” she said. “I had never taken his name in the past but if the Home Ministry, like Kalidas, wants to cut the tree they are sitting on, I will have to name him,” Ms. Banerjee said.
The West Bengal Chief Minister also targeted Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and asked how many people died in Mahakumbh and how many encounter deaths are reported in Uttar Pradesh. Mr. Aditynath had on Tuesday (April 15) accused the West Bengal Chief Minister of “standing by and giving rioters free rein in the name of secularism.”