'Laaton ke bhoot': Yogi Adityanath lambasts Mamata Banerjee's 'silence' over Murshidabad violence

NEW DELHI: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday launched salvos at his West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee over the recent violence in Murshidabad and accused her of turning a blind eyed on rioters in her state.
While addressing a public rally in Hardoi, Adityanath said that Mamata, in the name of secularism, has enabled rioters.
“You can see that West Bengal is burning. The state CM is silent and calls the rioters a peacemaker," Yogi said.
“Laato ke bhut baton se kaise manenge’. But, in the name of secularism, they have allowed the riots to spread violence. The whole of Murshidabad has been burning for past 7 days and government is silent. There should be a full stop to this anarchy,” he added.
UP CM also attacked Congress and Samajwadi party over its silence over the violence and termed them as "burden on the land of India."
"Everyone is silent. Congress is silent over the Murshidabad riots. Samajwadi Party (SP) is silent. TMC is silent," UP CM said.
They are issuing threats after threats. They are shamelessly supporting what happened in Bangladesh. If they like Bangladesh, they should go there. Why are they being a burden on the land of India?" he added.
Yogi also thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah for passing "Waqf Amendment Bill in the parliamentand reined in the loot of property of the poor."
"We are thankful to PM Modi and HM Amit Shah who passed Waqf Amendment Bill and reined in the loot of property of the poor. Now, hospitals, houses for the poor, high-rise buildings, schools and Universities would be built on the land that will come back; land bank for investment will be built," Yogi said.
"But nobody would be allowed to encroach on land and indulge in hooliganism. That is why are worried. The loot in the name of land is going to stop. So, they are worried that now that their henchmen will be free, they will turn into 'Bhasmasur' and start looting them (Opposition) now.. So, they are fooling people in the name of Waqf and misleading them," he added.
This comes after communal violence erupted in Murshidabad over recently enacted Waqf Act. A total of 210 people have so far been arrested in connection with the violence.
The clashes erupted when police stopped ISF supporters from heading towards Ramlila Maidan in central Kolkata to attend an anti-Waqf Act rally addressed by party leader and Bhangar MLA Naushad Siddique.
Meanwhile, vehicular traffic movement was normal along the Basanti Highway in Bhangar area in South 24 Parganas district, which witnessed fresh episodes of Waqf Act-related violence on Monday, they said.
Supporters of the Indian Secular Front (ISF) had clashed with the police at Bhangar on Monday, leading to several injuries, vandalising of public properties and the torching of multiple police vehicles.
The amendment was passed by the Rajya Sabha on April 4, with 128 votes in favour and 95 against, while the Lok Sabha cleared it earlier with 288 members backing the legislation and 232 voting against. President Droupadi Murmu gave her assent on April 5, turning it into law.
According to the government, the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, aimed to streamline the management of waqf properties, empower stakeholders, and enhance the efficiency of property surveys, registrations, and legal proceedings.
It aims to modify the Waqf Act, 1995, to address challenges in the regulation and oversight of Waqf properties. The amendments focus on enhancing the administration and ensuring more effective management of Waqf assets across India.