West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has announced that the controversial Wakf Bill will not be implemented in the state, amid ongoing protests and rising political tensions.
Amid nationwide protests over the recently passed Wakf Bill, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee declared that the legislation will not be enforced in her state. The announcement was reported by The Hindu on Saturday.
Banerjee strongly condemned any form of violence related to the issue and accused certain political parties of exploiting religion for political gains. “We do not support any kind of violence. Some political groups are trying to use religion to serve their political interests. Do not fall into their trap,” she urged during her public address.
According to a BBC report, protests and demonstrations have erupted across various parts of India, demanding the bill’s withdrawal. Several petitions challenging the law have been filed in the Supreme Court, where a Constitution Bench headed by the Chief Justice is scheduled to hear the cases next week.
Liberty News’ international correspondent states that in Kolkata, thousands have taken to the streets in protest. At a massive rally, the Muslim organization Jamiat Ulema-e-Hind announced that it would collect and submit one crore (10 million) signatures to the Prime Minister’s Office, urging the repeal of the Wakf Bill.
LND/BG
