The ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party engaged in a war of words in West Bengal on Sunday even as hundreds of people started fleeing the violence-hit areas of Murshidabad district.
At least three persons have lost their lives since the violence broke out during the anti-Waqf law protests in the district on Friday.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose accused the BJP of spreading fake videos and photos of violence and arson on social media.
On X, Ghose shared a screenshot of a post of the state BJP containing photographs which the saffron party claimed were that of the violence during Hindu festivals in West Bengal.
None of these incidents happened in the state, Ghose said as she listed the specific locations.
"The violence in Murshidabad has been deeply unfortunate. The Bengal government is clear no one will be allowed to take law into their hands and violence will be met with strict punishment, irrespective of community or religious identity of the perpetrators. However, the BJP, at the moment, is engaging in the politics of religious polarisation and incitement,” she said.
Shocking & alarming. @BJP4Bengal is brazenly spreading FAKE NEWS. Photos of violence from OTHER STATES, ( most from BJP ruled states) are being used as photos from Bengal. These are clear examples of hate mongering & conspiracy. @KolkataPolice & @WBPolice, must take IMMEDIATE &… pic.twitter.com/XCXWxqGDV0
— Sagarika Ghose (@sagarikaghose) April 13, 2025
TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said the photos shared by the BJP were that of the violence which had taken place in various other places including Assam, Lucknow, Jalandhar and Karnataka.
Political parties that cannot win democratically are indulging in such plots to disturb peace, he said.
The BJP, meanwhile, alleged that religious persecution in West Bengal is real.
“More than 400 Hindus from Dhulian, Murshidabad driven by fear of religiously driven bigots were forced to flee across the river and take shelter at Par Lalpur High School, Deonapur-Sovapur GP, Baisnabnagar, Malda,” Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari said in a post on X.
More than 400 Hindus from Dhulian, Murshidabad driven by fear of religiously driven bigots were forced to flee across the river & take shelter at Par Lalpur High School, Deonapur-Sovapur GP, Baisnabnagar, Malda.
— Suvendu Adhikari (@SuvenduWB) April 13, 2025
Religious persecution in Bengal is real.
Appeasement politics of… pic.twitter.com/gZFuanOT4N
He alleged that the “appeasement politics” of the Trinamool Congress had emboldened the radical elements.
“Hindus are being hunted, our people are running for their lives in their own land! Shame on the State Govt for allowing this breakdown of law and order,” he said.
“Bengal is burning. The social fabric is torn. Enough is enough,” he further said.
The Calcutta High Court on Saturday ordered the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in Murshidabad district to assist in restoring normalcy.
Violence continued in the area even as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee made an appeal for peace, saying the controversial law would not be implemented in the state.
Several vehicles were set on fire, shops and houses were vandalised and stones were pelted at security forces clashes rocked the district on Friday.
Over 150 people have been arrested so far in connection with the violence.
