KOLKATA — Amid fresh clashes during protests over the contentious Waqf (Amendment) Act in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday appealed people not to fall prey to provocation, and stressed that though everybody has the right to demonstrate peacefully, they should not take the law into their hands.
“Everybody has the democratic right to stage a peaceful protest with permission. I will request people not to take the law into their own hands. To protect the law, we have custodians and do not need any demon,” the CM said while inaugurating a skywalk close to the Kali temple at Kalighat in south Kolkata.
“Please do not indulge in non-religious activities in the name of religion,” she said.
Mamata’s comments came following fresh clashes between the police and the supporters of Indian Secular Front (ISF) at Bhangor in West Bengal’s South 24 Pargana.
The clashes, which allegedly led to multiple injuries and destruction of police vehicles, erupted as the police prevented ISF supporters from heading towards Ramlila Maidan in central Kolkata to attend an anti-Waqf Act protest rally addressed by party leader and Bhangar MLA Naushad Siddique.
According to police sources, the rallyists were stopped near Bhojerhat on the Basanti Highway, where a large number of ISF workers had gathered from Bhangar as well as neighbouring areas such as Minakhan and Sandeshkhali. A huge contingent of police was posted at the site.
Tension escalated when the crowd attempted to break through police barricades, leading to a clash between the two sides.
“Some police vehicles were set on fire by the protesters and a few police personnel were injured when the agitators attacked the law enforcers,” a senior police officer said.
Eyewitnesses said police resorted to lathi-charge to disperse the protesters, as the rally at Ramlila Ground didn’t have proper police permission, leading to at least one ISF worker sustaining a head injury.
The situation spiralled quickly, prompting ISF activists to sit on a protest on the highway, leading to long traffic snarls along the stretch.
A large police force, including senior officers, was deployed to bring the situation under control.
A high alert was sounded in the nearby areas. The protesters were later dispersed.
Addressing the gathering in Kolkata, Siddique criticised the Waqf (Amendment) Act and demanded its withdrawal.
“This law is not just an attack on Muslims, it is an assault on the Constitution. We won’t accept this Act. The government that supports such laws must go,” he said.
ISF also accused the BJP of trying to incite communal tension, and the ruling Trinamool Congress of suppressing opposition protests.
“The chief minister has said the new Waqf law will not be implemented in West Bengal. We welcome that. But then why are police stopping our workers from attending a peaceful rally? Does the right to protest belong only to the Trinamool Congress?” he asked.
Canning Purba TMC MLA Showkat Mollah, dismissed the ISF as a “party of no consequence.”
“They are trying to provoke unrest and create disturbances. They have no mass base,” Mollah alleged.
Violence took place in parts of Murshidabad, including Suti, Dhulian, and Jangipur, on Friday and Saturday during protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
At least three people were killed and several others injured in the violence.
Visuals from the affected areas showed charred remains of shops, homes, and hotels.
In a bid to calm tempers, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday announced that her government would not implement the Waqf Act in the state.
Acting on a petition filed by BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari, the Calcutta High Court on Saturday directed the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in the violence-hit areas to maintain law and order. — With Inputs from agencies
