Bengal Waqf Protests: Top 10 Points
Protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act have gripped West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, leaving three people dead and more than 150 arrested. The unrest, which began as demonstrations against the central law, has escalated into full-blown violence, prompting urgent judicial intervention and deployment of Central forces. According to official sources, arson, stone-pelting and vandalism were reported across Dhuliyan, Suti, Jangipur and Samserganj. A special bench of the Calcutta High Court has taken serious note of the violence and ordered Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) deployment to restore order. Political blame games have erupted, further intensifying the situation.
Bengal Waqf Protests: Top 10 Points
1. Widespread violence broke out in Murshidabad during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. According to the police, three people have died and over 150 were arrested across multiple locations, with reports of looting, vandalism and arson emerging from different parts of the district.
2. The Calcutta High Court, led by Justice Soumen Sen, termed the situation “grave and volatile” and directed the deployment of Central forces in Murshidabad and adjoining districts. The bench said it could not remain a mute spectator amid rising threats to life and property.
3. What began in Murshidabad soon spread to districts like Malda, North and South 24 Parganas, Hooghly and even parts of Kolkata. Protesters clashed with police, set vehicles ablaze and blocked major roads, paralysing normal life in many localities for several hours.
4. Following the court’s directive, five Border Security Force (BSF) companies were deployed in Murshidabad. IG Karni Singh Shekhawat confirmed the presence of BSF personnel, saying they were assisting local police and aiming to restore peace in the volatile district.
5. BJP Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari blamed the Trinamool Congress for the unrest, claiming that over 400 Hindus had been forced to flee their homes. He called the protests “religiously driven” and said “appeasement politics” had emboldened radical elements in the state.
6. Senior TMC leader Kalyan Banerjee countered Adhikari, accusing him of politicising a sensitive issue. He claimed the situation was under control and questioned the motives behind BJP’s aggressive posturing, terming it a “desperate attempt to communalise the protests”.
7. The Calcutta High Court directed both the Centre and West Bengal government to file detailed reports on the situation. It said the court cannot be embroiled in technical defences when innocent citizens are suffering and immediate protection is needed.
8. Several police vans were torched during the protests. Stones were thrown at security forces, and public infrastructure was vandalised. Authorities confirmed significant damage to state property, triggering further deployment of armed forces and intensification of security arrangements.
9. Beyond street protests, student bodies from Aliah University and Muslim organisations in Siliguri also staged demonstrations. They have demanded that the Act be withdrawn, claiming it undermines community ownership of Waqf properties and dilutes minority rights.
10. The controversial Act was passed by Parliament earlier this month and received presidential assent on 5 April. Critics argue it centralises control of Waqf properties and strips state Waqf boards of autonomy, prompting protests not only in Bengal but also in parts of Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra.
