Describing the violence over Waqf protests in Murshidabad as “pre-planned communal riots”, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday said that if elements from Bangladesh are involved in the riots then the Union Government should be held responsible. Banerjee claimed that the BSF, which guards the 2,200 km Bangladesh border along Bengal, was responsible for letting miscreants in from across the border.

The CM said that the BSF protects the borders and despite that if Bangladeshi elements are encouraging violence in West Bengal then it is the responsibility of the centre. This is because the Border Security Force (BSF) reports to the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) of the Government of India and not to the West Bengal government.

“I saw a tweet by a news agency quoting sources from the Home Ministry saying Bangladesh is involved in inciting violence in Murshidabad. If this is true, then central government is responsible for this because the West Bengal government does not look into the border security, the BSF does. The state government does not have the rights to guard the border,” Mamata Banerjee said at addressing a gathering of Muslim clerics in Kolkata.

Role of Amit Shah and BSF in Murshidabad violence: Mamata Banerjee

The Trinamool supremo further said the violence over the Waqf law was “planned” and suggested a conspiracy by Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the BSF to allow the entry of Bangladeshi miscreants to fuel unrest in the state.
She said, “I urge the Prime Minister. He must rein in the Home Minister (Amit Shah). He is using all the agencies to plot against us. What will happen when Modi ji is not there?”

Waqf law is BJP’s “Divide and rule Policy”: Mamata Banerjee

Calling the Waqf law BJP’s “divide and rule policy”, Mamata warned against the saffron party’s polarisation tactics. “The BJP wants to polarise so that my government is removed from power. Once they come to power they won’t even allow you to eat,” the Chief Minister said addressing the gathering. She further said that Imams have a responsibility to ensure that “no one gets enraged by what the BJP says.”

Highlighting that her party was at the forefront in the fight against the Waqf law, she urged members of the Muslim community to engage in peaceful protests.

Bangladesh connection to Murshidabad violence

An initial probe by intelligence agencies into the Murshidabad violence has revealed the involvement of Bangladeshi miscreants, according to a report sent to the Union Home Ministry. Murshidabad district where the violence broke out border Bangladesh.

Mamata Banerjee hits back at Yogi Adityanath

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday launched a verbal attack on his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee over the ongoing violence in Murshidabad during protests against the Waqf Amendment Act. The UP CM has accused Mamata Banerjee of remaining silent at a time when the state of West Bengal is “burning”.

Speaking at a public event in Uttar Pradesh’s Hardoi, CM Yogi Adityanath said, “Bengal is burning and the Chief Minister is silent. She calls rioters messengers of peace. Laaton ke bhoot baaton se kahan manne wale hain” (Those who understand only the language of violence will not be able to understand words).
Reacting to Yogi’s words, Mamata Banerjee hit back at him on Wednesday saying “Yogi is the biggest Bhogi”.

“Yogi is saying big things. He is the biggest Bhogi (meaning materialist). Multiple lives were lost in Mahakumbh. Many people are killed in encounters in Uttar Pradesh. Yogi doesn’t let people take out rallies. There is a lot of freedom in Bengal,” the Chief Minister said.