‘Did Mobs Come Out Of Air’: BJP’s Rejoinder To Mamata’s ‘Divide And Rule’ Charge In Riot-Hit Bengal

Last Updated:April 20, 2025, 14:03 IST

CM Mamata Banerjee referred to the violence in Murshidabad district amid anti-Waqf Act protests to accuse the BJP of using the incident to play “divisive” politics.

BJP IT Cell Head Amit Malviya and West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee | File Image

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday hit back at West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over her “divide and rule game” charge against the saffron party, saying that the TMC supremo has often misled the public.

It comes after Banerjee on Saturday referred to the violence in Murshidabad district amid anti-Waqf Act protests and accused the BJP of using the incident to play “divisive” politics.

“West Bengal police were already aware of the rallies. Why, then, were they not stopped in advance? Did mobs, weapons, and stones materialize out of thin air?” said BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya in an X post.

The BJP leader further said the West Bengal Chief Minister has repeatedly misled the public and demanded that, with accountability long overdue, she must step down.

“Using her official letterhead as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee—who is expected to serve all citizens impartially—is instead blaming the principal opposition party and a non-political organization (RSS) for her administration’s failures. This, despite her own police force debunking her narrative that the anti-Hindu violence in Murshidabad was incited by external elements,” Malviya added.

Protests in West Bengal against the Waqf (Amendment) Act turned violent in regions such as Murshidabad and Bhangar in South 24 Parganas. Reports indicate that protesters clashed with security forces and set fire to police vehicles. At least three people were killed.

Mamata Banerjee’s Attack On BJP, RSS

Banerjee issued an open letter on Saturday, accusing BJP and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of spreading a basket of untruths on the violence over the Waqf Act in the state.

She said the BJP and its allies are using the unfortunate incident which has occurred due to “provocation”, and hit out at them for playing the game of “divide and rule”.

“They are eager to use an unfortunate incident that has occurred as a result of provocation. They are using it to do the politics of division. They want to play the divide and rule game. It is a dangerous game,” she said.

“The BJP and its allies have suddenly become very aggressive in West Bengal. RSS is also among their companions. I did not mention RSS earlier, but this time I am forced to say that they are also at the root of the ugly lies being spread in the state,” the chief minister added.

BJP Mounts Attack

West Bengal LoP and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari also launched a scathing offensive against Banerjee, accusing the TMC supremo of misusing her official position by “spewing venom” through her Chief Minister’s letterhead.

“In a shameless spate of events, the hypocrisy of the Chief Minister of West Bengal is getting even more unraveled. She is misusing her official position and in garb of issuing a so-called ‘Peace Message’ (mis)using her letter head. She is spewing venom, hatred while doing vote bank politics,” said Adhikari in an X post.

Adhikari further accused Banerjee of inciting the public against the BJP, RSS, and the Sangh Parivar by spreading a false narrative, blaming the Sangh Parivar for the “ethnic cleansing of Hindus,” which he described as an absurd and contradictory allegation.

It comes after a sharp rebuke from Governor CV Ananda Bose, who a day earlier criticised TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee over the unrest linked to anti-Waqf Act protests, alleging a “cancerous growth of violence” in the state.