West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing yet indirect attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday, accusing them of double standards regarding the Muslim community.
Speaking at a gathering of Muslim clerics, Mamata questioned the BJP’s perceived anti-Muslim stance within India, juxtaposed with its friendly ties with Muslim-majority nations abroad.
“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,” Mamata remarked.
She used the platform to call on the INDIA alliance to remain unified and resist the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, which she warned could have far-reaching implications for all communities, not just Muslims.
“I appeal to the INDIA bloc: let us stay united and fight courageously. This is not a personal issue. Today, it is against you, tomorrow it will be against someone else. Now they want to bring UCC (Uniform Civil Code) too,” Banerjee added.
Her comments come amid rising political and legal tensions surrounding the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which was recently signed into law by President Droupadi Murmu on April 5 after passing Parliament following intense debate.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday heard multiple petitions challenging the Constitutional validity of the Act. A three-judge bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna noted its concern over the violence in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district following protests against the legislation.
While the apex court did not issue a stay, it hinted at suspending certain controversial provisions, including:
- Inclusion of non-Muslims in the Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards,
- Collector powers to settle disputes on Waqf property, and
- Provisions allowing de-notification of Waqf properties declared by courts.
The court said it was considering an interim order to balance equities and adjourned the matter to the next hearing.
As political and legal resistance grows, Mamata Banerjee has positioned herself as a vocal opponent of the Act and a defender of minority rights, calling for a collective front to resist what she describes as divisive legislation.