West Bengal is currently witnessing unrest, with protests against the Waqf Amendment Act turning violent after Islamist mobs unleashed large-scale violence in certain areas. Allegations have surfaced that the state administration, under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has been slow to respond to the situation, with law enforcement reportedly struggling to maintain order in affected regions such as Murshidabad.
Critics claim that the West Bengal Police have not been effective in preventing damage to property or assisting those displaced by the violence, some of whom have reportedly fled to neighbouring Malda district. Additionally, concerns have been raised over the perceived politicisation of the police force, with accusations that it is amplifying the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC)’s narrative.
— West Bengal Police (@WBPolice) April 20, 2025
On April 20, the West Bengal Police shared a ‘peace appeal’ signed by the Chief Minister on its official X (formerly Twitter) account. Detractors argue that the four-page document was not merely a call for peace, but also contained partisan messaging that directly criticised the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The ‘peace appeal,’ shared in both English and Bengali by the official X handle of the West Bengal Police, criticised the BJP and the RSS, accusing them of being ‘aggressive’ and allegedly conducting a ‘false campaign’ within the state.
The ‘peace appeal’ alleged that certain political groups were exploiting a provocation-based incident to fuel divisive politics, accusing them of attempting to implement a “divide and rule” strategy, which it described as “sinister.”
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee further claimed—without providing evidence—that the BJP and RSS intended to “play with fire” during Ram Navami. Critics argue that these remarks were an attempt to deflect attention from the violence reportedly carried out by members of her Muslim support base under the guise of protesting the new Waqf law. She went on to accuse the BJP and its allies of “defaming our universal Hinduism” in pursuit of their political agenda. Despite the controversial nature of these statements, the West Bengal Police continued to share and amplify the message through their official social media channels.
— West Bengal Police (@WBPolice) April 20, 2025
The West Bengal Chief Minister levelled unverified accusations against BJP-ruled states, stating, “The BJP and their allies are spreading false and narrow narratives. Their statements are a pile of lies built on misquotes. Please do not trust them. They aim to incite riots, which can harm everyone.”
The West Bengal Chief Minister appeared to downplay the involvement of local Muslim mobs in the Murshidabad violence by making broad, secular-sounding statements. “Please remember that riots are created neither by Hindus nor by Muslims—riots are engineered by criminals,” she said, continuing what critics have described as her appeasement politics.
In an apparent attempt to deepen the divide between communities, Mamata Banerjee suggested that those responsible for the unrest were not locals, but outsiders. “Those who create riots always come from outside and then go away… Do not trust some outsiders who come, create communal tensions, and generate riots for their narrow political gain,” she alleged.
However, victim accounts from the ground reportedly contradict her claims, pointing instead to local Muslim groups as the primary instigators of the violence. Despite these discrepancies and the Chief Minister’s controversial statements, the West Bengal Police amplified her ‘peace appeal’ by sharing it from their official X handle.
