'PM Modi should control Amit Shah': Mamata Banerjee alleges Home Minister's conspiracy behind Murshidabad riots

Mamata took Shah's name on multiple occasions and held him responsible for the Murshidabad riots but surprisingly exempted arch-rival, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, from her tirade during a meeting with Muslim clerics at Kolkata's Netaji Indoor Stadium.

She said, "I challenge the Government of India. Why are you so hurried? Don't you know the situation in Bangladesh? Bengal is the border of Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, Sri Lanka. You can secretly meet Yunus and sign deals. I would be happy if India gets benefited but what's your plan? Are you people planning to cause riots by agencies from Bangladesh?

"I saw an ANI tweet that quoted Home Ministry sources and claimed Bangladesh's involvement in the Murshidabad riots. If Bangladesh is involved, the onus is on the central government which manages the borders. Why did you allow this to happen then? The central government has to answer."

Claiming the Murshidabad riots, that caused three deaths, was a "pre-planned" act, Mamata on Wednesday went personal in her attack on Shah saying the Home Minister won't get an opportunity to become Modi's political successor.

In a direct attack on the Home Minister, who is the de facto number two in the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Mamata said, "Amit Shah's company majorly runs the BJP's IT sector... Why are you (Amit Shah) so hurried? You will never become the Prime Minister. What will you do after Modi's regime? You will be left crawling.

"He (Amit Shah) has caused major harm to this country. I would request Modi-ji to control this man. Amit Shah, who has all agencies in his hands, is making plans. Murshidabad riots is a pre-planned communal riot."

Mamata has not just trained her guns at Shah but also attacked BJP's two key allies- Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal (United)- for supporting the Waqf (Amendment) Act allegedly in pursuit of "power".

"Just look at Chandrababu Naidu (Andhra Pradesh CM and TDP chief) who is not bothered by the amendment. Nitish-babu (Bihar CM and JDU chief) is also not bothered. They are giving full support to this amendment for the sake of some power. They should not have voted in favour of this amendment," the Trinamool Congress supremo said.

In a solution to the Waqf (Amendment) Act which has irked the Muslims, Mamata appealed to people from the community to launch protests in Delhi, seek appointments of the President and Prime Minister and move the Supreme Court, ensuring she won't allow the Act to be implemented in West Bengal.

Anti-Waqf violence in Murshidabad

The fresh tension comes after massive violence in the Muslim-dominated Murshidabad district, in which three people were killed, railway tracks were blocked, and there was arson and vandalism.

Over 200 people have been arrested in connection with that violence so far.

Attacked by marauding mobs, Hindus from villages fled in boats and via roads to the adjacent district of Malda as Islamic violence claimed three lives and destroyed properties.

West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Monday demanded a probe into the Islamic violence and riots that hit the Murshidabad district, causing three deaths, by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

West Bengal Police have now said that the situation is under control, and prohibitory orders are in place to prevent large gatherings.

Videos from ferry ghats showed hordes of Hindu families, including women, children and elderly, fleeing to the safety of the Malda district.

After Murshidabad, fresh violence hits Bengal's South 24 Parganas

After days of tension in Murshidabad, fresh violence erupted at Bhangar in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas on Monday during a protest against the Centre's Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Viral videos on social media showed police motorbikes were torched, and a police bus was overturned with its windshield ripped out.

A large contingent of police marched on the streets to contain violence.

The cops had to use a lathi-charge to disperse protesters, at least one of whom was also injured.

A senior cop confirmed to the media that some police personnel were injured in the clashes.

The ISF, meanwhile, pointed to Mamata's claim - that her government would not implement the new Waqf laws - and asked why then its protest had been halted.

The Indian Secular Front (ISF) supporters, moving towards the Ramlila Maidan in central Kolkata to attend an anti-Waqf law rally to be addressed by party leader Naushad Siddique, resorted to violence after the cops denied permission for the rally.

According to reports, the protesters clashed with the police, leading to injuries and the arson of police vehicles.

Siddique has, meanwhile, called the new law "an attack on Muslims and assault on the Constitution".

Tension escalated when the crowd attempted to break through the barricades.

A senior cop told the media that some police personnel were injured in the clashes, and eyewitnesses said the cops held a lathi-charge to disperse protesters, at least one of whom was also injured.

The ISF pointed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that her government would not implement the new Waqf laws and asked why then its protest had been halted.