With Mamata Banerjee's government on the defensive over other matters, the "leaked" document has strengthened the BJP's narrative by accusing it of "conspiracy."
The Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal is facing renewed scrutiny over communal violence in Murshidabad, as a Calcutta High Court-appointed committee's report blames local TMC leadership and alleges police inaction. This development provides significant ammunition for the Opposition BJP, which is intensifying its attack on the TMC, accusing it of appeasement politics ahead of the Assembly elections.
The report specifically names local councillor Mehboob Alam as directing the attacks, which occurred during anti-Waqf Amendment Act protests on April 11, stating that "the local police was completely inactive and absent." It further alleges that Samserganj MLA Amirul Islam was present during the arson, identifying unattacked houses that were then set ablaze, and that police did not respond to villagers' calls for help.
Both Mehboob Alam and Amirul Islam have vehemently denied the allegations, dismissing them as "completely false" and a "BJP-RSS conspiracy." Alam claimed he attempted to stop miscreants and sought police assistance, while Islam asserted he was actively trying to intervene and later provided relief to victims.
This report marks the third recent setback for the TMC. Earlier, the Supreme Court upheld the annulment of 25,753 teacher appointments and directed the state to release 25% of outstanding Dearness Allowance arrears to employees. The detailed allegations against specific TMC leaders in the Murshidabad report make it harder for the party to dismiss the accusations as mere political propaganda.
