Amid heightened tensions in West Bengal following the passage of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of the Opposition in the state assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, has praised the judiciary for stepping in to protect riot victims through a newly constituted relief and rehabilitation committee.
Taking to social media platform X on Friday morning, Adhikari expressed gratitude to the judiciary, calling it the “Temple of Justice” for prioritising the restoration and compensation of those affected by the recent violence in districts like Murshidabad.
“The Committee consisting of officials from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), West Bengal Human Rights Commission, and State Legal Services Authority will be responsible for rehabilitating and compensating the victims of riots,” he posted.
The Calcutta High Court order he referenced emphasized the State’s responsibility to rebuild homes, shops, and shelters damaged in the violence, and to adequately compensate individuals who have lost their livelihood due to arson and destruction.
Adhikari also applauded the court’s assertion of the Union Government’s authority to deploy Central Forces and order a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in such sensitive matters.
“The Court rightly observed that the Union Government already possesses full discretion to direct NIA intervention and deploy Central forces — a significant step toward restoring law and order,” he said.
He took the opportunity to slam the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government, saying it had failed to rise above political bias and adequately protect its citizens.
Adhikari had filed a petition on Thursday seeking an NIA probe into the violence in Murshidabad, alleging the involvement of Bangladeshi elements, and flagged the incident as a threat to national security under Section 6 of the NIA Act.
Earlier, the Calcutta High Court had directed the deployment of central forces in the violence-hit region, following reports of widespread unrest, arson, and lawlessness.
The situation in Murshidabad remains tense, but judicial and central interventions are now being seen as critical steps to address victim rehabilitation, security concerns, and accountability.