The Impressive TimesWest Bengal : Normal life was severely disrupted across several districts of West Bengal on Friday as protests erupted against the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025. Demonstrators took to the streets in large numbers, raising slogans and blocking roads, leading to traffic snarls and a partial shutdown in some areas. Shops remained closed in pockets of Kolkata, Howrah, Murshidabad, and Malda, while local train services were temporarily halted in protest-hit zones.
In response to the escalating tension, Border Security Force (BSF) personnel have been deployed in the most affected areas to assist local police and ensure law and order is maintained. Clashes between protestors and police were reported in certain districts, though no major injuries have been officially confirmed so far.
The political fallout has intensified, with the BJP accusing the ruling Trinamool Congress government of exploiting the situation to distract the public from major issues like the ongoing School Service Commission (SSC) recruitment scam. Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, alleged that under the guise of protests, incidents of looting and arson were being carried out with tacit administrative support.
“West Bengal is burning, and the government is sleeping. The SSC scam is being brushed under the carpet while violence unfolds on the streets,” Adhikari said during a press interaction in Midnapore.
Former Pradesh Congress Committee president and senior MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury also lashed out at the Mamata Banerjee administration, claiming it has deliberately turned a blind eye to the situation despite having prior intelligence about the scale of the protests. “The government is watching like a silent spectator. This inaction is deeply concerning,” he said.
Amid growing criticism and unrest, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is set to hold a high-level meeting on April 16 with prominent religious leaders from the Muslim community to deliberate on the implications of the Waqf (Amendment) Act. Kolkata Mayor and State Minister Firhad Hakim confirmed that the meeting will be attended by Maulavis, Imams, and Islamic scholars from across the state.
“This will be a dialogue, not a political gathering. The voices of the community must be heard,” Hakim stated.
As the state awaits further clarity on the controversial Act, the administration is under pressure to control the unrest and initiate inclusive dialogue to restore peace.
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