The BJP has strongly criticized the Trinamool Congress (TMC) following a controversial social media post by TMC MP Yusuf Pathan amid violent unrest in West Bengal over the Waqf Amendment Act. Pathan, who represents Baharampur in Parliament, posted a photo of himself on Instagram on Saturday with a serene caption: “Easy afternoons, good chai, and calm surroundings. Just soaking in the moment.” This post came even as his constituency and several other districts were witnessing widespread protests and violence.
The timing of the post sparked sharp reactions from the BJP, which accused Pathan of being indifferent to the crisis and blamed Mamata Banerjee’s government for what they called “state-protected violence.” BJP leaders further alleged that the TMC was failing to maintain law and order and should seek help from the Centre if it was unable to manage the situation on its own.
The unrest began on Friday and spread across multiple districts including Malda, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas, and Hooghly. The protests against the Waqf Amendment Act turned violent, with mobs torching vehicles (including police vans), pelting stones at security forces, and blocking major roads. Over 110 individuals have been arrested so far, and police operations continue across the affected areas.
In response to the volatile situation, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared that the state would not implement the Waqf Amendment Act. Despite this, BJP continued to hold counter-protests, alleging that the TMC was appeasing specific groups and allowing chaos to spread unchecked.
BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari took the matter to the Calcutta High Court, which subsequently ordered the deployment of central forces in violence-hit areas to restore order. The situation remains tense, with both political rhetoric and security measures escalating.
