Editorial: Waqf Act, douse the communal flames

The ongoing mob violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district is not just a law-and-order failure, it is also a political and administrative failure

West Bengal is on the boil. Protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act have turned violent, turning the State into a communal cauldron. What is more alarming is that the political parties on either side of the divide are adding fuel to the fire. Murshidabad district has become the latest communal flashpoint, where the violence has claimed the lives of three persons, including a father-son duo who were hacked to death by a fanatic mob. Unfortunately, the conduct of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee amid the raging unrest leaves much to be desired. Her assurance that the amended Waqf Act would not be implemented in the State has not helped in easing the situation. There is a growing unease over her inept handling of the situation. Instead of merely blaming the BJP for the turmoil, her administration would be better advised to do everything needed to first douse the communal flames and then take stringent action against the perpetrators of violence. The Calcutta High Court stepped in and ordered the deployment of Central paramilitary forces in Murshidabad. This shows the seriousness of the situation on the ground. The ongoing mob violence is not just a law-and-order failure, it is also a political and administrative failure. The lack of public awareness and transparency around the implications of the Waqf Act has left space for misinformation to breed. Instead of engaging in meaningful dialogue with stakeholders, the state has allowed a legal reform to morph into a communal tinderbox.

West Bengal must rise above its political compulsions and reassert its commitment to secular governance. While peaceful protest is a democratic right of any citizen, what is happening in Bengal is a classic example of vested interest groups seeking to fish in troubled waters and incite mob violence. In this regard, the Chief Minister’s public statements denouncing a law passed by Parliament and her political grandstanding were ill-advised and should have been avoided in the interests of public order. Even a legitimate protest against an Act of the Union government cannot become a reason for public defiance of the Constitution and the rule of law. At the heart of the public protests is the growing suspicion over the powers granted to Waqf Boards, especially regarding land registration and ownership. Protesters argue that the amended Act allows sweeping control over properties without adequate safeguards or consultation. This perception has stoked fears of land encroachment and demographic manipulation — narratives that political actors are quick to exploit. Another area of concern is the provision for the appointment of non-Muslims on Waqf Boards, which are essentially mandated to run properties donated by the faithful to causes sanctioned by Islam. The BJP has accused the ruling Trinamool Congress of shielding Waqf interests at the cost of the majority community, alleging that Hindus are being forced to flee violence-hit areas. Such wild claims will only deepen the communal divide.

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