Why Did CM Banerjee Delay Her Visit to Murshidabad Amid Violence?

Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Delayed response from CM Banerjee raises concerns.
- BJP criticizes lack of engagement during violence.
- State's duty to protect citizens questioned.
- Murshidabad faces ongoing community tensions.
- Leadership accountability is essential in crises.
New Delhi, May 5 (NationPress) The BJP has launched a fierce criticism against West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday, labeling her visit to Murshidabad as "delayed and politically motivated." This district has recently experienced severe communal violence tied to protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which resulted in the loss of three lives.
Leading the BJP's charge, JPC Chairman and BJP MP, Jagdambika Pal, accused CM Banerjee of neglecting her constitutional duties during the peak of the turmoil.
"It is already too late. When the violence was occurring, she chose to remain silent. She did not engage with the clerics in Kolkata. While the violence was ongoing, the police acted as passive bystanders as families were torn apart," he stated.
Pal asserted that the state government failed to safeguard its citizens, particularly the Hindu community.
"During the violence, the state bore responsibility. Many Hindus fled from Murshidabad to Malda seeking safety. She didn’t intervene to bring them back. Now, after the rioting has subsided and the destruction is done, she decides to visit," Pal remarked.
Supporting Pal, senior BJP leader and former state party president Dilip Ghosh also criticized the Chief Minister’s timing and response. "Mamata Banerjee should have visited Murshidabad sooner. Why did she wait? She has called Imams, held meetings, and inaugurated temples, yet she never went to the areas where Hindus were suffering," Ghosh asserted.
He accused CM Banerjee of consistently overlooking the suffering of Hindus in Murshidabad and Malda, claiming they have been systematically targeted.
"Hindus in Murshidabad and Malda have faced persecution repeatedly. Their homes are destroyed, properties burned, forcing them to flee," he claimed.
"Mamata Banerjee has never addressed this issue, and she remains silent this time as well. Now, they’re arriving so late that all evidence will be lost," Ghosh added.
The BJP’s reproach coincides with Banerjee’s upcoming two-day visit to the violence-stricken district, marking her first trip since the unrest erupted over the controversial Waqf law.
Her agenda includes administrative meetings and service delivery initiatives, but opposition leaders have raised concerns regarding the delay and are demanding accountability for the state’s management of the crisis.