New Delhi [India], April 13: JD(U) leader KC Tyagi on Sunday condemned the recent violence in Murshidabad, West Bengal, following protests against the amended Waqf Act, describing the situation as deeply alarming and a matter of national concern.
In an interview with ANI, Tyagi said, “The way unarmed people were beaten, bullets were fired, and lives were lost — the entire country is in shock. It’s difficult to imagine peace returning without the deployment of central forces.”
The unrest in Murshidabad began after demonstrations broke out in protest against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which was passed by both Houses of Parliament and received Presidential assent on April 5. So far, the violence has claimed three lives, and 150 individuals have been arrested, according to the West Bengal Police.
To restore order, police forces have been deployed in Samserganj, Dhuliyan, and other affected localities. However, on Saturday, the Calcutta High Court ordered the immediate deployment of central forces in the violence-hit areas, citing the gravity of the situation.
Advocate Anish Mukherjee, representing Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, had filed a PIL demanding central intervention and an NIA investigation. The High Court has directed both the State and Central governments to submit detailed reports by April 17, when the matter will be heard next.
In addition to Murshidabad, tensions also flared in Jangipur, where public property was damaged during protests. A police official confirmed that the situation in most areas has now stabilized.
On Friday, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose urged the Mamata Banerjee-led government to take strict action against the miscreants involved in the disturbances in Amtala, Suti, Dhuliyan, and parts of North 24 Parganas.
While opposition parties continue to protest the amended law, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has announced a ‘Waqf Reforms Awareness Campaign’, scheduled from April 20 to May 5, aimed at informing the Muslim community about the Act’s benefits.