West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to visit Murshidabad on Monday, weeks after the region was rocked by violent protests and communal unrest triggered by opposition to the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
According to Agriculture Minister Shobandeb Chatterjee, the Chief Minister had previously refrained from visiting the area due to ongoing tensions. “Our leader, Mamata Banerjee, has always maintained that it was difficult for political figures to enter the area during the unrest. Let the police do their job. Now that peace has returned, she is going there to guide people on how they can live together harmoniously,” Chatterjee told reporters.
Murshidabad had witnessed large-scale violence on April 11, when protests against the Waqf Act amendment spiraled out of control. The incident left two people dead, caused several injuries, and led to significant property damage. Thousands fled their homes, fearing for their safety.
The political fallout from the incident has been intense. On April 26, BJP MP Tarun Chugh launched a scathing attack on the Trinamool Congress-led government, accusing it of harboring rioters and turning a blind eye to the violence. “The silence of the West Bengal government on the premeditated and planned attack on Hindus in Murshidabad proves that Mamata Banerjee’s administration has given shelter to the rioters,” Chugh alleged in a statement to ANI.
He further accused the Chief Minister of “ruining and disgracing” Bengal through what he termed as misrule and appeasement politics. “This violence is a blot on humanity. Her politics has given a free hand to criminals in the state,” he added.
These remarks came in the wake of a strong statement from the National Commission for Women, which condemned the recent communal clashes in Murshidabad and Malda. The Commission expressed deep concern over reports that women and girls were subjected to horrific acts of sexual violence, assault, and rape threats during the unrest.
As Mamata Banerjee prepares for her visit, all eyes are on how she addresses the situation on the ground and responds to growing political and public scrutiny.