"Mamata Banerjee and her govt are only with rioters": BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla

New Delhi [India], April 14 (ANI): The Bharatiya Janata Party has launched a scathing attack on the Trinamool Congress and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the Murshidabad violence.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla has called it "a state-sponsored, state-protected, state-encouraged" attack on the Hindu community.
Speaking exclusively to ANI, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla said, "The West Bengal violence is a state-sponsored, state-protected, state-encouraged, targeted anti-Hindu violence. Instead of taking action, Mamata Banerjee and her government are not only shielding the rioters but also humiliating the victims from the Hindu community."
He also accused Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh of giving a clean chit to rioters, TMC minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury and TMC MP Bapi Halder of issuing threats.
"Kunal Ghosh says that the BSF is responsible for the violence--this effectively gives a clean chit to the rioters. Siddiqullah Chowdhury and Bapi Haldar issued threats. Firhad Hakim says this is not migration, that they are just moving from one place to another... This shows that the violence in West Bengal in the name of Waqf had state support," added the BJP spokesperson.
The BJP leader slammed the West Bengal CM for instigating rioters and appealing to her vote bank to agitate over the Waqf Act that has been constitutionally passed by Parliament.
"Mamata Banerjee's statement from 18th February 2025 is also out, where she herself is seen instigating rioters and appealing to her vote bank to agitate over something that has been constitutionally passed by Parliament. This shows that the sentiments of Mamata Banerjee and her government lie only with the rioters," said Poonawalla.
On 12th April (Saturday), three people were killed in the Murshidabad district during violence amid protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, the police said.
Consequently, the West Bengal Police have arrested 150 individuals in connection with the Murshidabad violence. According to a police statement, adequate forces have been deployed in Samserganj, Dhuliyan, Suti, and other affected areas to maintain order.
BJP MP from Purulia, Jyotirmay Singh Mahato, has written to Union Home Minister Amit Shah, urging the imposition of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA) in Malda, Murshidabad, Nadia, and South 24 Parganas districts of West Bengal, citing a deteriorating security situation and alleging targeted violence against the Hindu community.
On Saturday, a special bench of the Calcutta High Court ordered the deployment of central forces "immediately" in Murshidabad in the wake of widespread violence during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which has resulted in three deaths so far. (ANI)