Amid ongoing violence during protests against the amended Waqf Act in West Bengal, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday appealed for calm, stating that while everyone has the right to peaceful protest, taking the law into one’s own hands cannot be condoned.
Speaking at the inauguration of a skywalk near the renowned Kalighat Kali temple in south Kolkata, Mamata Banerjee said, “Everybody has the democratic right to stage a peaceful protest with permission. I will request people not to take the law into their own hands. To protect the law, we have custodians and do not need any demon.”
She further urged citizens not to be provoked or engage in activities unrelated to religion under the pretext of religious expression. “Please do not indulge in non-religious activities in the name of religion,” she added, as per news agency PTI.
“One shouldn’t play games with religion. Dharma means devotion, affection, humanity, peace, amity, culture, harmony, and unity. Loving human beings is one of the highest expressions of any religion. We are born alone and we die alone; so why the fight? Why the riots, war, or unrest? Remember, one can win everything if we love people. But if we isolate ourselves, we won’t be able to win anyone,” the West Bengal Chief Minister remarked, as per news agency ANI.
She further urged citizens to uphold law and order, stating, “Everyone has the right to hold peaceful protests with permission. But I appeal to everyone irrespective of who they are, to not take lthe aw into their hands. We have custodians of the law; we do not need those who operate outside it. This is why I request that when someone tries to incite you, do not fall for the trap. Those who keep their minds calm amid all provocation are the real winners. That is real victory.”
As reported by The Economic Times, she remarked, “Every caste and religion has the right to protest, but do not take law into your hands. Some people are trying to mislead you, do not pay attention to them.”
The remarks come in the wake of violent clashes in Dhulian area of Muslim-majority Murshidabad district on Friday, which left three people dead and several injured during protests against the amended Waqf law. Fresh unrest was reported on Monday in Bhangar, South 24 Parganas district, where supporters of the opposition Indian Secular Front clashed with police, resulting in multiple injuries and several police vehicles being set ablaze.
Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo, criticised those who target her for attending events of various faiths. “Some people not only criticise me because I visit programmes of various religions, but also change my surname,” she said.
Appealing for unity, she emphasised, “Live in peace. The land of Bengal is the land of peace. Its soil is as pure as gold.”
Kalighat Skywalk
After inaugurating the skywalk, Banerjee walked through it to reach the Kalighat temple and offered prayers. She was accompanied by Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim, Sports Minister Arup Biswas and other officials. She also unveiled a hawkers’ corner and a renovated portion of the temple, which is considered one of the 51 Shakti Peeths.
The skywalk, which is 435 metres long and 10.5 metres wide, connects three roads in the congested temple area. “This is a congested area and it was very difficult to build this skywalk… The state government has spent 99 per cent of the cost to renovate the temple. A small part at the tip of the temple is made of gold and it has been given by Reliance,” Banerjee said.
The Kalighat temple, as per its official website, has existed in its current form for around 200 years, though it finds mention in 15th-century literature.
Murshidabad Resident Demands Permanent BSF Camp In Area
Amid the escalating tensions, residents of Dhuliyan in Murshidabad shared harrowing experiences. Khusbhu Das, a local resident, told ANI, “Both our shops and house were burnt. Everything was vandalised. We called the police and fire brigade to douse the fire, but no one picked up our calls. We want a permanent camp (of the BSF) here so that this does not happen again. We want to live here peacefully.”
#WATCH | Murshidabad, West Bengal: Khusbhu Das, a resident of Dhuliyan, says, “Both our shops and house were burnt. Everything was vandalized. We called the police and fire brigade to douse the fire, but no one picked up our calls. We want a permanent camp (of the BSF) here so… https://t.co/BUatLHRFta pic.twitter.com/xySeh0waWL
— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2025
Visuals from the Dhuliyan town of the Jangipur subdivision of the Murshidabad district, where violence broke out during a protest against Waqf Amendment Act on April 11 also surfaced.
#WATCH | West Bengal: Visuals from Dhuliyan town of Jangipur subdivision of Murshidabad district, where violence broke out during a protest against Waqf Amendment Act on April 11
Security personnel have been deployed here, and as per the officials, the situation is under… pic.twitter.com/9QZURVp6SJ
— ANI (@ANI) April 14, 2025
BSF Visits Violence-Hit Areas In Murshidabad, Meets Bengal Top Cop
In response to the situation, senior officials of the Border Security Force (BSF) visited the affected areas on Monday, offering assurances of safety and support. As per news agency PTI, a BSF delegation led by Additional Director General (East) Ravi Gandhi toured disturbed pockets under Suti and Samserganj police station areas, including Dhuliyan.
“We spoke to people and assured them of their safety and security. We interacted with the locals and our jawans posted there. The situation is slowly returning to normal,” Gandhi told PTI. He added that some residents had voiced concerns about disturbances at night, to which the BSF had promised full assistance and steps to plug any security gaps.
Gandhi also met with West Bengal’s Director General of Police and other senior officials to formulate a joint strategy aimed at intensifying patrols and strengthening coordination with the state police. “We are working in close coordination with the state police to ensure the return of normalcy,” he said.
The South Bengal Frontier of the BSF stated that Gandhi had expressed sympathy with the victims and assured them that their safety and needs would be prioritised. He lauded BSF personnel for their efforts in controlling the unrest and emphasised the importance of vigilance along the Indo-Bangladesh border.
“In view of the current situation in Murshidabad district, Gandhi appeared very serious to ensure tight security of the international border and cautioned officials against any laxity,” the BSF said in its statement.
During his interaction with the media, Gandhi reiterated the BSF’s commitment to restoring peace and supporting civil administration. “The safety of citizens is of top priority and any negligence in this regard will not be tolerated,” he asserted.
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