Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Apr 13: The escalating unrest in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district has prompted two BJP Lok Sabha MPs to seek immediate intervention from Union Home Minister Amit Shah, citing rising communal tension and alleged inaction by the state government.
Jagannath Sarkar, MP from Ranaghat (Nadia district), and Jyotirmay Singh Mahato, MP from Purulia, have each sent letters to the Home Minister highlighting the deteriorating situation in Murshidabad. The district has been reeling from violent protests following opposition to the newly introduced Waqf (Amendment) Act, with incidents reportedly targeting the Hindu community.
Sarkar, in his communication, criticized the West Bengal administration for what he described as a conspicuous silence during the initial outbreak of unrest. He referenced the Calcutta High Court’s recent observations, where a special division bench criticized the state government’s failure to act promptly. The court had noted that the delayed deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) allowed the situation to spiral into a “grave” and “volatile” state.
He further requested that the Ministry of Home Affairs dispatch a high-level team to conduct an on-ground investigation and monitor developments not only in Murshidabad but also in other sensitive areas of the state.
In a more strongly worded letter, Mahato compared the plight of Bengali Hindus in the violence-hit regions to the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits in the 1990s. He claimed that residents are gripped by fear, isolation, and targeted attacks, blaming the unrest on orchestrated propaganda and the inaction of local authorities.
Mahato also appealed for the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in border districts such as Murshidabad, Malda, Nadia, and South 24 Parganas — all of which share international boundaries with Bangladesh. Citing Section 3 of the AFSPA Act, 1958, he argued that such a move is necessary to stabilize the region.
With tensions mounting and political pressure intensifying, all eyes are now on the Union Home Ministry’s next steps as the situation in Murshidabad remains fragile.