‘Mamata Banerjee fueling violence’: Kiren Rijiju slams Bengal CM’s stand on Waqf Act

New Delhi: Union Minister of Parliamentary Affairs and Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju has accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of having fueled violence in the state by her stance on the Waqf Amendment Act and said she may have differences but cannot say that a particular law will not be implemented in the state. In an interview with ANI, Rijiju said that Banerjee’s defiance of a law passed by Parliament undermines constitutional propriety and sends a dangerous message.

“In the long run, whatever the Chief Minister of West Bengal and some of the political parties are doing will have deep negative repercussions in terms of establishing not only the rule of law, but its propriety of the Constitution. Law and order is a state subject,” he said.

Rijiju said the Chief Minister’s declaration that the Waqf Amendment Act will not be implemented in West Bengal is a matter of serious concern. “Now the Chief Minister herself in West Bengal says that she will not accept and will not implement this Act in her state. That will be construed as defying the constitutional spirits and also at the same time instigating the people.”

Referring to recent incidents in Murshidabad and other parts of Bengal, Rijiju claimed that the violence was a direct result of political rhetoric.

“The violence which had happened in Murshidabad and other parts of West Bengal and we do see sporadic incidents elsewhere—these are the result of unmindful political statements given by Mamata Banerjee and some of the political leaders, which is condemnable. I fail to understand that sitting in such a high position, she is undermining her own position.”

He added that the responsibility for law and order lies with the state government. “For example, the violence in West Bengal—who has to contain the violence? The state government. The person who is in charge of the law and order situation in the state—she herself is fueling this kind of violence, leading to the death of innocent people.”

Asked why he believed Banerjee was fuelling the unrest, Rijiju responded, “She is openly saying that she doesn’t accept the law? We have to understand one thing. In a democracy, any law passed by the Parliament—it may not have 100 per cent support within the House, because the House is composed of representatives from all the states and union territories—and the majority of the members come together and make the law. Now, when the members make the law, it is the law of the Parliament, which means law of the nation.” (ANI)

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