‘Violence planned’: Control Shah, Mamata tells Modi
Times of India | 17 April 2025
12 Kolkata: The Murshidabad violence was a "planned communal riot" orchestrated by BJP with the help of central agencies, Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee said on Wednesday, questioning the role of Union home minister Amit Shah.
Banerjee also questioned the "unseemly hurry" to change the waqf law when the situation in neighbouring Bangladesh remained volatile.
The CM accused the Union home minister of using multiple agencies against the state and urged PM Narendra Modi to "control" Shah. "They have a lot of money, all IT networks are being used to spread fake news against Bengal. They are all Shah's companies. I have never taken his name earlier, but if the home ministry — like Kalidas — tries to chop off the branch it sits on, I will have to talk about it," she said. "You will never be PM," she said. "What will you do after Modiji steps down? You will have to crawl. He has damaged the country the most. I will request Narendra Modiji to control him. All agencies have been handed over to him and he is making all sorts of plans. This was a pre-planned communal riot," she alleged.
BJP brought in outsiders with agencies' help and paid them Rs 6,000-7,000 to orchestrate this violence, Banerjee said. "They had a similar strategy during Ram Navami but you foiled it. I salute you! Every community has its traitors: those who take money and sabotage their own people," the CM said at an anti-waqf convention of imams. Members of other communities, including the Sanatan Hindu Trust, also attended.
Banerjee also directly questioned BSF's role in the Murshidabad violence. "It engaged in firing and action will be taken accordingly," she said.
"Article 26 of the Indian Constitution guarantees everyone the right to manage their own religious affairs and properties. But the Centre is infringing on that right, the rights of both Ram and Rahim. This is not in your jurisdiction. I dare govt of India to explain the hurry in passing this bill. Are you unaware of the situation in Bangladesh? You hold secret meetings with Yunus and sign agreements," she said.
"I saw an ANI tweet attributed to MHA sources stating that Bangladesh may be involved (in the Murshidabad violence). The Centre is responsible if that is true because it controls BSF. States do not have the responsibility of guarding international borders. Why was this allowed? Why did they allow BJP thugs from outside to come and create chaos? Accountability must be fixed. They want to polarise and divide Hindus and Muslims," Banerjee alleged, appealing for peace.
"I am not here to make provocative statements, I am in favour of peace," she said, adding: "We must respect all religions. That is our parampara (tradition). I also request the imams to convey a message of peace to the people. It is a personal appeal not to fall in BJP's trap," she said.
Banerjee said Hindus, too, had donated property to waqf boards for social welfare and questioned the silence of NDA partners. "Chandrababu Naidu and Nitish babu sit silently, backing BJP for power. Was this worth your vote?" she asked, urging other parties to oppose the law unitedly. "I appeal to the INDIA bloc: let us unite and fight boldly. This is not a personal issue, it affects all of us," she said.
The CM said the new law was not aimed to hurt only one community, but residents of every state. "This law does not only strip you of your rights,"she told Muslims. "Article 14 of the Constitution, too, has been violated. Land matters are in the State List, Articles 18 and 35 grant those rights to state. This is a fundamental breach of federalism," Banerjee said.