Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Apr 16: Amid rising tension and incidents of arson in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district over the Waqf Act, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee held a crucial meeting with Muslim clerics, imams and Ulemas at the Netaji Indoor Stadium, urging them to play a proactive role in restoring peace across the affected regions.
The meeting, however, has stirred a political storm, with the BJP launching a sharp attack on the TMC government, accusing it of communal appeasement and administrative failure. Senior BJP leader Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi expressed deep concern over the situation in the state and criticised the Chief Minister’s outreach to Muslim religious leaders.
“There is unrest in several areas, especially in West Bengal, which is deeply concerning. It appears that the state government has surrendered to criminal and communal forces. And now, by organising a meeting involving the same elements, what message is Mamata Banerjee trying to convey one of trust, or of fear?” Naqvi told.
He further alleged that the constitutional machinery in West Bengal has collapsed, pointing to the migration of people from violence-hit areas as a stark indicator of the administration’s failure to maintain law and order.
“People are fleeing right under the nose of a constitutional government. This shows how governance has collapsed,” Naqvi said, as reports of families leaving their homes in panic continue to emerge from Murshidabad and neighbouring areas. The recent violence in Murshidabad has already claimed three lives, sparking widespread criticism against the Mamata-led administration for not taking strong action against extremist elements.
The BJP has accused the TMC of indulging in appeasement politics for electoral gains, rather than upholding the rule of law and ensuring justice for all communities affected by the unrest.
Meanwhile, Naqvi also reacted to the Enforcement Directorate’s recent action in the National Herald case, in which Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi have been named in a chargesheet. Responding to Congress’s criticism of the move, Naqvi said the party was trying to mask corruption by playing the victim card.
“The Congress is trying to portray corruption as a revolutionary act. They carry this act of fraud like a badge of honour, claiming victimhood. But this is not about political vendetta it's a matter that has already been investigated and guided by court orders,” he said.
The Enforcement Directorate on Tuesday filed a chargesheet naming Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Sam Pitroda and Suman Dubey as accused in the case related to alleged financial irregularities in the National Herald matter. The case continues to add fuel to the ongoing political face-off between the BJP and Congress on the national stage.