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Stones were allegedly hurled at the police and their vehicles were set on fire during a protest over the Waqf (Amendment) Act in Bengal’s Murshidabad district
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. (PTI)
Amid violent protests in West Bengal over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday came out strongly in support of the minority community, assuring them that their rights and properties will be protected in Bengal.
She urged the minority communities not to fall prey to political provocation and emphasised the importance of unity, saying, “Live and let live.” She stressed that her government will not allow “divide and rule” politics to prevail in Bengal, promoting unity among all communities.
The Chief Minister assured the minority community that their rights and properties would be safeguarded, stating, “When Didi is here, Didi will protect you and your property.”
While addressing the ‘Navkar Mahamantra Divas’ program, CM Banerjee said, “I want to tell minorities – we know that you are pained over the Waqf property matter. Have faith; nothing of any sort will happen in Bengal that will allow ‘divide and rule.’ Give a message that we will all live together – Live and let live. There should be no impatience.”
The Chief Minister Banerjee appealed to the minority communities to trust her government and work together to overcome challenges, saying, “Don’t distrust and let us trust each and everybody. If we are together, we can win everything and conquer the world. Let’s give this message to the world.”
This comes after stones were allegedly hurled at the police and their vehicles were set on fire during a protest over the Waqf (Amendment) Act in the Muslim-dominated Murshidabad district of West Bengal, officials said.
The Waqf Amendment Act, 2025, which was cleared by both Houses of Parliament last week after two days of marathon debates and President Droupadi Murmu’s nod, came into effect on Tuesday. However, people in several states, like West Bengal and Tamil Nadu, have staged protests against the legislation, arguing that it takes away the personal rights of Muslims.
Bharatiya Janata Party’s IT cell head Amit Malviya shared several videos of the violence and blamed Banerjee’s politics of “Muslim appeasement” for the unrest. “Mamata Banerjee has lost control over vast regions of Bengal, which have become inaccessible to the state administration due to an unnatural demographic shift and illegal infiltration. All she can do now is grovel in anticipation of their votes,” he said.
“Mamata Banerjee’s spineless brand of Muslim appeasement is dragging Bengal dangerously close to the path of Bangladesh,” he said. “2026 will be the reckoning. Mamata Banerjee’s politics of appeasement will be swept away by the rising tide of Hindu awakening in Bengal.”
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also shared his remark on the Waqf Amendment Act 2025, which sparked a massive political debate, with the BJP calling it a “strong response to the provocative lobby”, while the Opposition dubbing the law “divisive”.
Addressing the News18 Rising Bharat Summit 2025 on Tuesday, PM Modi dubbed the protests by the Opposition against the law as “appeasement politics” and said that the rights of poor pasmanda Muslims, women, and children will now be ensured under the new law.
