West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose has submitted a report to the Ministry of Home Affairs regarding the riots in Murshidabad and has stated that the twin spectre of radicalisation and militancy poses a serious challenge to the state. According to news agency PTI, the governor has also suggested a few measures, including setting up an inquiry commission and outposts of central forces or the BSF in districts bordering Bangladesh, besides writing, needless to add, the provisions under Article 356 of the Constitution also remain.
The imposition of Article 356 refers to the assent of the president’s rule in a state.
On being asked about Article 356, an official told PTI that the governor has not proposed implementation of Art 356. He meant that the provisions of Art. 356 are open to the Centre if the situation in the state further deteriorates, the official further added.
Meanwhile, reacting to the incident, the ruling Trinamool Congress described the report as politically motivated.
According to news agency PTI, the governor has also expressed apprehension about a “spillover” of the Murshidabad violence to other districts of the state and recommended that the central government should consider “constitutional options to put a check on the current situation besides generating confidence of people in the rule of law”.
“The twin spectre of radicalisation and militancy poses a serious challenge for West Bengal, especially in two of the several districts sharing an international border with Bangladesh, viz., Murshidabad and Malda. In both these districts, there is an adverse demographic composition with Hindus being minorities. Another district, viz., Uttar Dinajpur, has a plurality,” Bose mentioned in his report, a copy of which is with PTI.
The Bengal governor has suggested several measures in the aftermath of violence that claimed the lives of at least three people in the state, including a man and his son, and left several injured. The riot occurred amid anti-Waqf (Amendment) Act protests.
“Formulating an overarching legislation to empower the Union Government to maintain law and order when the state machinery fails to act effectively. Appointing a commission of Inquiry under the Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, to look into the reported acts of omission and commission as indicated above and to suggest measures to prevent such incidents in future and needless to add, the provisions under Article 356 of the Constitution also remain,” the report mentioned.
Of late, there are “indications of radicalisation and polarisation”, it said.
“The divisions are so deep that even in the face of escalation of violence, the chief minister’s repeated undertaking’ that she would protect minority interests, and that the Act would not be implemented in the state, have done little to assuage the Muslim community or stem the tide. It is imperative that the rule of law must be firmly established, and the police must prevent violence,” Bose wrote in the report.
The governor also claimed in the report that the riots appeared premeditated and the state government was aware of the imminent build-up of a threat to law and order in Murshidabad.
“As the Notification of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 was issued on 08.04.2025, conflagration unfolded in Murshidabad district that spiralled out of control and continued for several days. On 08.04.2025, the state government promulgated temporary suspension order of internet…Thus, the state government was aware of the imminent build-up of threat to law and order in Murshidabad,” Bose alleged in his report.
Responding to the development, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said that Article 356 cannot be implemented arbitrarily.
#WATCH | The West Bengal Governor filed a report to MHA over the Murshidabad violence, which reportedly says that the centre is open to implementing Article 356 (President’s rule) if the state’s condition further deteriorates.
In North 24 Parganas, Congress leader Adhir Ranjan… pic.twitter.com/tKQ1oKojOY
— ANI (@ANI) May 4, 2025
“I understand that law and order are worsening here, and the state administration and the CM herself are responsible for it. For things to be better, this government must be removed, but not from the backdoor by implementing the president’s rule” he said.
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