“Hindus Dragged Out and Killed”: Yogi Adityanath on Violence in Murshidabad Over "Waqf Act"
Yogi pointed to what he claimed was widespread, undocumented occupation of land in the name of Waqf.
In a sharp statement on Sunday, Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath alleged that recent violence in Murshidabad, West Bengal, was not random unrest but “instigated”—and that Hindus were deliberately targeted and killed over tensions surrounding the Waqf Amendment Bill.
Speaking on the issue, he said, “Three Hindus were dragged out of their homes and murdered. They were Dalits, the poor, the marginalized—people who stand to gain most from the land that’s being freed up.”
Yogi pointed to what he claimed was widespread, undocumented occupation of land in the name of Waqf. “There are no papers, no records. But now that the Waqf Amendment Bill has passed and action is being taken, violence is being used as a weapon,” he said, as quoted by PTI.
What Happened in Murshidabad?
Murshidabad—known for its Muslim-majority population—saw violent clashes earlier this week, resulting in the deaths of three people, including a father and son. The unrest is believed to be linked to ongoing protests against changes to the Waqf law.
To bring things under control, 150 people were arrested, and following a directive from the Calcutta High Court, the BSF (Border Security Force) was deployed to stabilize the area.
BSF DIG Nilotpal Kumar Pandey told ANI, “The situation is tense but under control. Things have improved since yesterday, and we hope normalcy will return soon.”
As political and legal tensions around the Waqf land reforms continue to mount, more such confrontations could unfold in the coming weeks.