Bengal burns, dissent with Waqf law violence triggers at deeper distrust

By Kuheli Kar

A "waqf" is an Islamic endowment where property is permanently dedicated for charitable or religious purposes. Once dedicated, the property becomes inalienable, meaning it cannot be sold, gifted, inherited, or encumbered. The income from the waqf is typically used for purposes like maintaining mosques, funding educational institutions, or supporting the poor.

On August 8, 2024, two bills, the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, and the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024, were introduced in the Lok Sabha with an aim to streamline the Waqf Board's work and ensure the efficient management of Waqf properties.

The objective of the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024, is to amend the Waqf Act, 1995, to redress the issues and challenges in regulating and managing Waqf properties. The Amendment Bill seeks to improve the administration and management of waqf properties in India. It aims to overcome the shortcomings of the previous act and enhance the efficiency of Waqf boards by introducing changes such as renaming the Act, updating the definitions of waqf, improving the registration process, and increasing the role of technology in managing waqf records.

The primary objective of the Mussalman Wakf (Repeal) Bill, 2024 is to repeal the Mussalman Wakf Act, 1923, a colonial-era legislation that has become outdated and inadequate for managing waqf properties in modern India. The repeal aims to ensure uniformity, transparency, and accountability in the administration and management of waqf properties under the Waqf Act, 1995, thus eliminating inconsistencies and ambiguities caused by the continued existence of this redundant law

The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024 has been referred to the Joint Committee of Parliament.

The aftermath of the act in Bengal is tremendous as the protest movement goes on, mob lynching took place throughout West Bengal.A frenzied mob unleashed attacks on houses in West Bengal's Murshidabad district and set vehicles on fire as fresh protests against the Waqf law turned violent on Friday. CCTV footage exclusively accessed by India Today shows a person entering a house in violence-hit Murshidabad and smashing a bike with a brick and kitchen utensils before fleeing.

A woman said a mob stormed into her residence and ransacked furniture and broke chairs. "They could not go upstairs as it was locked. But they damaged the motorcycles downstairs," she said

Suvendu Adhikari, leader of the Opposition in West Bengal, has requested for urgent deployment of Central paramilitary forces, highlighting the worsening law and order situation in parts of the state.

In a pointed social media post on X, Adhikari wrote, "More than 400 Hindus from Dhulian, Murshidabad, driven by fear of religiously driven bigots, were forced to flee across the river & take shelter at Par Lalpur High School, Deonapur-Sovapur GP, Baisnabnagar, Malda. Religious persecution in Bengal is real."

"I urge the Central Paramilitary Forces deployed in the District, the State Police and the district administration to ensure the safe return of these displaced Hindus & protect their lives from this jihadist terror," expressed the senior BJP leader on X.

West Bengal’s Murshidabad district has become the latest flashpoint in the country’s communal and legislative landscape, where three lives were lost and over 150 arrests made in violent protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. What began as a legal concern has spiralled into bloodshed, with a father-son duo reportedly hacked to death and vehicles torched. At the heart of the unrest is 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.

The BJP has accused the ruling TMC of shielding Waqf interests at the cost of the majority community, alleging that Hindus are being forced to flee violence-hit areas. Whether substantiated or not, such claims only deepen communal divides. Meanwhile, the Centre’s decision to deploy additional forces reflects both the seriousness of the situation and the state's inability to contain the crisis. This violence isn't just a law-and-order failure; it is a political and administrative one. There is unease within the TMC that CM Mamata Banerjee is not handling the situation properly. The situation has even prompted a clamour for the imposition of President’s rule in the state, though limited to the BJP.

The court decision has been welcomed by the West Bengal Governor, C. V. Ananda Bose. He shared his concern related to deteriorating law and order.  "I am glad the High Court stepped in and made the right call”, he stated.

The court’s order came after a petition was filed by Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly. His advocate, Anish Mukherjee, highlighted in court that the violence has been growing without being checked, especially in Murshidabad.

The High Court has also ordered both the state and central governments to submit a detailed report related to the violence. The case will be taken up for further hearing on April 17.

In the wake of violent Waqf Act protests in West Bengal, with areas in Murshidabad embroiled in arson attacks, clashes and killings, Trinamool Congress MP Yusuf Pathan’s “calm surroundings and good chai” post on Instagram drew widespread flak and outrage on social media and from the BJP. The cricketer-turned-politician’s post comes as pockets of the state burn in agitations over the Waqf (Amendment) Act, even witnessing deployment of Central Forces and BSF companies. 

In the pictures posted by Yusuf Pathan, he can be seen sipping tea, sitting under a tree, as he captioned it: "Easy afternoons, good chai and calm surroundings. Just soaking in the moment." The Baharampur MP received a lot of backlash as people criticised him and asked him to post pictures of the violence-hit areas in Murshidabad instead. Baharampur is located in Murshidabad.

BJP slams TMC MP for Instagram post

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla came down heavily on Yusuf Pathan for his insensitive post during the difficult time in Murshidabad. Referring to his post, he said, "Bengal is burning. HC has said it can’t keep its eyes closed and deployed central forces. Mamata Banerjee is encouraging such state-protected violence, as the Police stay silent! Meanwhile, Yusuf Pathan - MP sips tea and soaks in the moment as Hindus get slaughtered."

Slamming Pathan, BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that Mamata Banerjee had chosen cricketer Yusuf Pathan "from somewhere" and given him an election ticket, which he won in Baharampur due to vote bank politics. Poonawalla claimed that while Bengal was facing widespread violence and Hindus were being selectively targeted, Pathan was seen leisurely sipping tea, showing what he described as the Trinamool Congress’s misplaced priorities. He further alleged that while families like the Das family were suffering, Pathan appeared indifferent to the situation, highlighting what he saw as a lack of accountability and seriousness from the TMC leadership.

West Bengal’s Murshidabad district has become the latest flashpoint in the country’s communal and legislative landscape, where three lives were lost and over 150 arrests made in violent protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. What began as a legal concern has spiralled into bloodshed, with a father-son duo reportedly hacked to death and vehicles torched. At the heart of the unrest is 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.

The BJP has accused the ruling TMC of shielding Waqf interests at the cost of the majority community, alleging that Hindus are being forced to flee violence-hit areas. Whether substantiated or not, such claims only deepen communal divides. Meanwhile, the Centre’s decision to deploy additional forces reflects both the seriousness of the situation and the state's inability to contain the crisis. This violence isn't just a law-and-order failure; it is a political and administrative one. There is unease within the TMC that CM Mamata Banerjee is not handling the situation properly. The situation has even prompted a clamour for the imposition of President’s rule in the state, though limited to the BJP.

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. Immediate compensation and justice for victims to prevent further flare-ups are urgent steps.