Abhishek Banerjee Urges Peace Amid Waqf Act Protests, Condemns Attempts to ‘Burn Bengal’

Baby Chakraborty | KalimNews | Kolkata | April 12, 2025 : As tensions rise in parts of West Bengal over protests related to the Waqf Act, leading to incidents of violence in districts such as Murshidabad, Hooghly, and South 24 Parganas, political discourse in the state has intensified. The ongoing unrest has already claimed three lives, prompting strong reactions from both the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has accused the Mamata Banerjee-led government of administrative failure.

Amid the mounting tensions, Trinamool Congress National General Secretary and Member of Parliament Abhishek Banerjee addressed the issue publicly on Saturday. Speaking at the inauguration ceremony of a private hospital in Sodepur, he criticized those fueling unrest, stating, “Some people want to burn Bengal. They are unable to accept the state’s progress and success, and so they are trying to incite division among communities based on religion.”

Urging restraint and unity, Banerjee emphasized the importance of maintaining Bengal’s longstanding cultural fabric. “I stand here today to appeal to everyone listening—do not forget the culture of Bengal. Let peace and harmony prevail in every corner. Do not allow injustice to take root, and remain vigilant against those attempting to spread disorder,” he said.

In response to the growing violence, the Calcutta High Court has ordered the deployment of central forces in the affected districts, including Murshidabad, to ensure law and order. Simultaneously, administrative scrutiny continues over allegations of irregularities in housing project fund allocations. Banerjee commented on the issue, asserting that while action should be taken against the ineligible, it would be unjust to penalize thousands of deserving candidates due to the misconduct of a few. “This is not fair,” he stated.

The situation remains tense, with state authorities and the judiciary closely monitoring developments. Political leaders across parties are being called upon to exercise responsibility in ensuring public safety and communal harmony during this sensitive time.