‘You are against Muslims, but in Saudi….’: Mamata Banerjee's fresh salvo at PM Narendra Modi over Waqf Amendment Act

Mamata Banerjee further appealed to the INDIA bloc to "stay united and fight together" against the Waqf Amendment Act

Updated on: Apr 17, 2025, 15:28:24 IST

By HT News Desk

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee took a veiled jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing them of being "against Muslims" but receiving their hospitality in West Asian countries.

West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee meets Imams and religious leaders from Muslim community and speaks on Waqf Amendment Act 2025 at Netaji Indoor Stadium in Kolkata, India, on Wednesday. (Samir Jana/ Hindustan Times)

"You are against Muslims, but in Saudi Arabia, you meet Muslims... If you go to Dubai, UAE, whose hospitality do you take there... You say one thing in your country and another outside," ANI quoted Banerjee as saying while addressing the gathering in a meeting with Muslim clerics.

She further appealed to the INDIA bloc to "stay united and fight together" against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 whose passage has witnessed strong objections and protests from the Opposition.

"I will appeal to the INDIA bloc: let us stay united and fight together courageously. This is not a personal matter; it will affect everyone. Today, it is happening against you. Tomorrow, it will be against someone else. Now they want to bring UCC," Banerjee added.

ALSO READ: 'BSF paid rioters': Mamata Banerjee blames BJP for Murshidabad violence

West Bengal Police forms SIT to probe Murshidabad violence

Banerjee's remarks have come amid tensions in West Bengal's Murshidabad, where three people were killed in the violence. The state police has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the incidents of violence.

ALSO READ: Murshidabad violence victim's wife narrates horror tale: ‘Broke windows, doors…’

According to a PTI report, the SIT comprises an Additional Superintendent of Police (Intelligence Branch), two Deputy Superintendents -- one from the Counter Insurgency Force (CIF) and the other from the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) -- five inspectors (including four from the CID and one from Traffic Police), and the in-charge officer of the Cyber Crime Police Station under Sundarban Police District.

ALSO READ: ‘Leader of rioters’, ‘lost her mental balance’: BJP hits back at Mamata

Violence broke out in Murshidabad during a protest of the Muslim community against the Waqf Amendment Act on April 11. The protests turned violent, resulting in the death of a father-son duo and injuries to several others, with widespread property damage. One person was also killed in the police firing.

(With PTI, ANI inputs)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
HT News Desk
Follow the latest breaking news, major developments and agenda-setting stories from India and around the world with the newsdesk at Hindustan Times. Operating round the clock, the desk brings together experienced editors, reporters and correspondents to deliver fast, accurate and contextual reporting across subjects that influence public policy, governance, business, society and international affairs. The HT News Desk covers politics, elections, government policies, the economy, business and markets, science and technology, the environment, law and order, infrastructure, education, climate issues and geopolitics, while closely tracking developments across states, institutions and global capitals. The team also leads coverage of major breaking news events, policy announcements, court proceedings, natural disasters, public emergencies and significant international developments. Reports published by the newsdesk are based on information gathered from reporters on the ground, official statements, government agencies, court records, regulatory filings, recognised institutions and other authoritative sources. Stories undergo editorial scrutiny and verification processes to ensure accuracy, fairness and relevance, and are updated as events evolve and additional information becomes available. Whether covering a key political decision in New Delhi, an economic policy shift affecting millions, a landmark court ruling or a major global event, the HT News Desk aims to provide readers with reliable, fact-based journalism that delivers not only the latest developments but also the context and analysis needed to understand their wider implications.Read More

Get the latest India News, breaking headlines and real-time updates from across the country. Stay informed about politics, government policies, crime, weather and major national developments.