West Bengal on Edge: Communal Tensions Boil Ahead of Elections

Murshidabad, Kolkata, West Bengal:  West Bengal is witnessing a disturbing rise in communal tensions as three people were killed in Murshidabad during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. The unrest has spread across the State, including Kolkata, despite curfews and Internet shutdowns. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's assurances that the Act won't be implemented in Bengal have failed to calm public outrage.

Violence erupted on April 8 and continues amid widespread destruction of public property in areas like Jangipur. While the Trinamool Congress (TMC) has shown support for Muslim protests, the BJP has stoked flames through provocative Ram Navami processions. The Calcutta High Court has now ordered the deployment of central forces in Murshidabad following police inaction.

The region, already grappling with poverty and poor infrastructure, remains on high alert. With Assembly elections less than a year away, both TMC and BJP appear to be using communal polarization for political gain. Experts warn that governance and law enforcement must take precedence over vote-bank politics.