Mamata Banerjee fires salvo at BJP for Murshidabad Violence.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday has announced a compensation of Rs. 10 lakhs each for the families of the three people who died in the communal violence in Murshidabad district and pledged to rebuild the houses damaged during the riots. “The families of those who lost their lives in the violence will get Rs 10 lakh each. We don’t see the religious identity of victims but their pain. Those who lost their dwellings will new homes under Banglar Bari (a state government housing scheme for the poor). Those whose shops were damaged; the Chief Secretary will take estimates and get the work done for them“. The Chief Minister while addressing a conference of the Imams, the Moazzims and intellectuals here, also assailed the Narendra Modi government at the Centre for being “in a hurry” over passing the Waqf Amendment ignoring the present situation in Bangladesh, which shares a long border with Bengal.

“Why were you in such a hurry about [Waqf Amendment]? Didn’t you know the situation in Bangladesh? Bengal shares a border with Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan. Hold meetings with (present interim Bangladesh government Chief Adviser Muhammad) Yunus, have pacts and agreements. I will be happy if it brings good to the country. But what is their plan?” Mamata said at Netaji Indoor Stadium programme. The Chief Minister, making a veiled reference to the 2002 Gujarat riots as a factor behind the BJP’s rise to power, said, “Those who come to power by inciting riots will never understand the value of people’s blood. The violence in Murshidabad was pre-planned. Had TMC been involved in the Waqf violence as claimed by the opposition, the houses of our leaders wouldn’t have been attacked”, she added.

Three people were allegedly killed and 18 policemen injured during violent clashes in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on Friday over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, according to sources familiar with the situation. Since then, at least 118 individuals have been arrested in connection with the riots.

Police have reported that on Friday, a father-son duo was hacked to death by a mob at Shamsherganj under Jangipur police district in Murshidabad as protests against the new Act turned violent. Another 25-year-old youth, who was reportedly injured in police firing in Suti, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at a state-run hospital on Saturday. However, police on Sunday arrested two individuals in connection with the murder of the father son duo. Several areas in Murshidabad district, including Suti, Shamsherganj, and Dhuliyan, have been on the edge since last Friday as protests against the Waqf Amendment Act escalated, resulting in three deaths and leaving many people homeless, prompting the Calcutta High Court to order the deployment of central forces to restore law and order.

The Chief Minister launched a sharp attack on the BJP – led Central Government, accusing it of allowing outsiders to enter the state and incite riots. Referring to a tweet quoting the Union Home Ministry claiming Bangladesh’s involvement in the Murshidabad riots, the Chief Minister said “To engage in riots by using certain agencies that facilitate movement of people from there…. If that is the case (allowing people from Bangladesh), the Central government is responsible since BSF guards the borders, not us. The state government doesn’t have the responsibility to guard the borders”. Alleging that the BSF is allowing people to come to Bengal and create disturbance so that they can polarise the Hindus and the Muslims and get advantage during the election, Mamata said, “Why did they allow BJP thugs from outside to come and create chaos before fleeing the scene? Accountability must be fixed. They want to polarise and divide Hindus and Muslims. They want their Jumla government … Don’t divide the country; unite all instead”. 

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was, however, critical of the Border Security Forces (BSF). “I have heard that BSF was also engaged in firing. I will ask the Chief Secretary to get a report on it and action will be taken accordingly”.

Accusing the BJP of hatching a plan to foment riots on Ram Navami, Banerjee said “They failed and for that I would like to thank everyone. Don’t fall into the trap of BJP. I have information that they gave 5000 to 6000 rupees to the children for pelting stones. Investigation is on and I shall find everyone”, the chief minister said. Appealing for peace among all communities, Mamata said, “I am firmly against any form of riots or violence. I personally urge everyone not to engage in violence and to prevent others from doing so. As long as I am here, I will not allow any division between Hindus and Muslims”, she added.

She has launched a scathing attack against the Central government urging Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “rein in” his Home Minister, Amit Shah, for allegedly “using” central agencies to enable infiltrators from Bangladesh to create unrest in the state. “I would request the Prime Minister to keep a check on Amit Shah. He is harming the country most to serve his political interests. Why is he (Amit Shah) in such a hurry? He will never become the Prime Minister, and what will he do once Modi-ji leaves? The PM must see how his Home Minister is misusing central agencies. PM Modi-ji must control him”.

When asked about it, the leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari said, “This is a fabricated and malafide statement by the Chief Minister of West Bengal. If BSF would not have been deployed, the situation would have worsened. They have brought back people to their houses. They have done a commendable job.

Team Maverick