Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced on Wednesday that the Waqf (Amendment) Act will not be enforced in the state.
Speaking at a Jain community event in Kolkata, Banerjee assured that she would stand by minorities and safeguard their rights and property.
“I understand your concerns regarding the Waqf Act. Trust me, Bengal will not allow policies that divide people. Spread the message of unity,” she said.
The Trinamool Congress leader urged people not to fall into the trap of those inciting political unrest.
Referring indirectly to the recent unrest in Murshidabad linked to the Waqf Bill, she said, “Look at the tension near the Bangladesh border. This Bill should not have been passed now. Bengal has a 33% minority population. How am I expected to deal with this?”
The Waqf (Amendment) Bill was cleared by the Lok Sabha on April 3 and later passed by the Rajya Sabha after extensive discussions. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent to it on Saturday.
Banerjee recalled the shared history of Bengal, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and India, noting that partition came later and that those residing in Bengal deserve protection.
She stressed that unity among people can overcome any challenge.
“Some may try to stir unrest and provoke protests, but I request everyone to avoid such actions. As long as Didi is here, you are safe. Let’s continue to trust one another,” she said.
At the same event, Banerjee reiterated her commitment to religious harmony, saying she visits places of worship across all faiths and will continue to do so.
“Even if someone kills me, they can’t separate me from this unity. All religions preach humanity, and we respect them all,” she said.
She added that she participates in Durga Puja, Kali Puja, and visits Jain, Buddhist, Sikh, Christian, and Guru Ravidas places of worship.
“In Rajasthan, I visited both Ajmer Sharif and the Brahma Temple in Pushkar,” she noted.
