Political muscle flexing and polarisation in West Bengal on Bangladesh situation and Waqf Bill

Trinamool Congress leaders protest against Waqf Bill, vow to fight for minority rights, while BJP focuses on Bangladesh issues.

The minority cell of Trinamool Congress on Saturday (November 30, 2024) organised a gathering in Kolkata to protest against the Waqf Bill tabled in the Parliament. Senior Trinamool Congress leaders including Mayor of Kolkata Municipal Corporation Firhad Hakim, Kalyan Banerjee were among those who addressed the gathering at Esplanade in Kolkata and vowed to fight the Waqf Bills tooth and nail.

Addressing the gathering Sreerampur MP Kalyan Banerjee, who is member of the Joint Parliament Committee on the Waqf Amendment Bill, said that proposed legislations violates the provisions of Article 26 of Indian Constitution which gives the right to minorities to manage their religious affairs

Mr. Banerjee said that Trinamool Congress chairperson Mamata Banerjee had told him to fight in the joint parliamentary committee for the rights of Muslims in West Bengal.

“The fight will continue. Modi ji (Prime Minister Narendra Modi) you will not be able to intimidate Trinamool Congress and Mamata Banerjee. We will continue our fight and give more blood if required,” Mr. Banerjee said.

On October 29, Mr. Banerjee had cut his hand after he broke a glass water bottle during a joint parliamentary committee meeting. The MP had to face one day of suspension for his act. Firhad Hakim said that the spirit of constitution band secular character is being violated through the proposed bills.

Speaking at the meeting Trinamool MLA Mosarraf Hossain claimed that the Waqf Amendment Bill was part of a conspiracy to seize the properties of Muslims, and polarising the society for narrow political gains.

The Trinamool Congress show of strength in opposition to the Waqf Bill comes two days after Muslim groups under the banner of West Bengal State Jamiat-e-Ulema organised a public protest at in the heart of the city and Muslims from across the city poured in huge numbers to protest against the Waqf Amendment Bill. The TMC has also moved a resolution in the State Assembly against the Waqf Bill which is likely to come up for discussion on December 2.