Protests erupted in different parts of West Bengal on Friday against the Waqf Amendment Bill that was passed by both houses of the Parliament this week. Kolkata witnessed the largest demonstrations, with hundreds gathering in the Park Circus area and blocking roads.
The protest was led by the Joint Forum for Waqf Protection, a coalition of various Muslim organisations, demanding the bill’s immediate withdrawal. Protesters accused the BJP-led central government of using the bill to divide the country.
Though the protest remained largely peaceful, some demonstrators burned tyres and blocked traffic at the busy seven-point junction in Park Circus, despite repeated appeals from organisers to not engage in such activities. To maintain normalcy, a heavy security presence, including personnel from the Rapid Action Force (RAF), was deployed.
Declaring that she would not let Muslims lose their properties, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) supremo Mamata Banerjee had stated on Thursday that her party would stage protests against the Waqf Amendment Bill on Friday and Saturday in each block of the state.
In response, TMC workers organised rallies and public meetings in various districts. At Bhangar in South 24 Parganas, TMC MLA Saokat Molla led a gathering, condemning the central government. "It’s not just in West Bengal, but today the entire country is protesting. The current Indian government is worse than the British colonial government," Molla, the Canning Purba MLA said.
He accused the BJP-led government of attempting to fuel communal tensions by depriving minorities of their rights. "Today, they have started with Muslims, but tomorrow they will come for Adivasis, Sikhs, Christians, and even Hindus," he warned.
Meanwhile, CM Banerjee also called for protests against the central government's decision to increase the prices of 900 essential medicines, including those for heart disease, diabetes, and infections. The Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP), the party’s student wing, staged a rally from College Square to Swami Vivekananda’s residence in North Kolkata.
"The hike in medicine prices has made life difficult for ordinary people," said Trinankur Bhattacharjee, TMCP state president. He urged the central government to follow West Bengal’s model and open fair-price medicine shops nationwide. Additionally, he demanded the removal of the 18 per cent GST on mediclaim policies to ease the financial burden on citizens.
