Kolkata: Saying that her government will not implement the Narendra Modi government’s newly-enacted Waqf law in the state, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday reached out to the violence-hit areas of Murshidabad district, appealing for peace.
“My sincere appeal to all people of all religions, please remain calm, remain restrained. Do not engage in any unrighteous behavior in the name of religion. Every human life is precious. Do not incite riots for the sake of politics. Those who are inciting riots are harming the society,” she further stressed.
According to Bengal’s top cop Rajeev Kumar, rumour-mongering led to the violent protests on Friday, which saw multiple government vehicles, buildings, including police outposts, railway offices, and shops, vandalised and set on fire. The Chief Minister reminded the ones protesting that the law was not amended by her party. “The law was made by the central government.
So the answer you want should be sought from the central government,” she said, while warning that her government will take strict action against the perpetrators. “Some political parties are trying to misuse religion for political gain. Do not give in to their persuasion,” she added. Narrating the night of horror, several victims recounted how the police were absent from the scene as their shops were looted, vandalised and set on fire.
