Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju said West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is inciting violence by asking people to protest and saying she will not implement the Waqf (Amendment) Act in the state
Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday slammed West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, saying she is 'inciting violence' by refusing to implement the Waqf (Amendment) Act in the state and amid concerns over her stance sparking unrest.
How can the West Bengal chief minister declare that she will not implement the amended Waqf Act passed by Parliament? The Union Minority Affairs minister asked while addressing a press conference.
In response to reporters' queries about Banerjee's statement that the Waqf (Amendment) Act won't be implemented in West Bengal, Rijiju questioned, 'How can she say she won't implement it? She's in a constitutional position, and the law's been passed by a constitutional body, so how can she refuse to follow something constitutional?'
"The CM is visibly inciting violence by asking people to protest and saying that she will not follow the law passed by the Parliament," he added.
On April 9, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made a strong statement about the Waqf Amendment Act, saying the amended bill will not be implemented in West Bengal. She also assured that she will protect the rights of minority communities and their properties in the state.
"Some people will provoke you to assemble and launch a movement. I will appeal to all of you not to do it. Please remember when Didi (Banerjee) is here, she will protect you and your property. Let us have trust in each other," the chief minister said.
"Even if you shoot me dead, you will not be able to separate me from (that) unity. Every religion, caste, creed... all of them pray for humanity and we love them," she added.
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On April 11, protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act turned violent in West Bengal's Murshidabad, where agitators set vehicles on fire, disrupting road and rail traffic, and leaving three people dead and many injured.
Apart from Murshidabad, Kolkata, New Farakka, and Malda also witnessed protests against the amended bill.