West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee addressed the media during her visit to violence-hit Murshidabad, on May 5, 2025.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Three weeks after the communal riots at Murshidabad, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited the district on Monday (May 5, 2025) and asked why she should face criticism for a select few who were involved in the communal violence in the district.

Ms. Banerjee said that it was a planned incident where two or three persons were involved, and added that she would expose this before the media soon. “You can abuse me, this does not affect me. But why should I face criticism because of a few who were involved in riots,” she said.

The communal violence in Murshidabad on April 11 and 12 claimed three lives and left hundreds of people homeless. More than 300 people have been arrested for their involvement in the riots and 138 FIRs were registered.

Speaking to media persons, the Chief Minister expressed her anger “against those who got provoked” during the riots.

Also read | Murshidabad riots not spontaneous, says fact finding team; demands judicial inquiry

“Those who have been provoked and one community has targeted the other, I will tell them West Bengal will not allow this. I am against none, but I am against riots and conspiracy,” she said. She also said that when she was in the Chief Minister’s chair, all religions were the same to her. “I do not want people from any community to face any issue here,” she added.

The Chief Minister accused the BJP of “foul play” and claimed that the families affected by the Murshidabad riots were “forcibly” shifted to prevent them from meeting her. Parul Das, widow of Hargobind Das, and Pinki Das, widow of Chandan Das, who were killed in the violence had left for Kolkata and approached the Calcutta High Court demanding CBI probe into the violence.

Also read | Stability has returned to Murshidabad; have no clue about Governor’s report to MHA: Mamata

“The BJP took away the families of those affected by the Murshidabad riots so that they can’t meet me. Is this not kidnapping? What harm would it have caused, had I met them here and handed over the cheques,” she asked.

Targeting the BJP leadership, she said that “instead of facilitating communal violence, [they] please take care of the borders”. “Please save the country from any disaster. Please give justice to those who have lost their dear ones. Do not do nasty and dirty politics. I am the last person to tolerate nasty politics,” she added.

Ms. Banerjee, who held a meeting with senior district officials at Behrampore, said she planned to visit Suti on Tuesday to meet people affected by the violence.

Reacting to the Chief Minister’s remarks, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari claimed that Ms. Banerjee was responsible for the violence.

“She is asking why will she have to listen to criticism (against riots)… She will have to listen because you have given responsibility to the local leaders and not to police to protect the people,” he charged.

CPI(M) State secretary Md. Salim took objection to the fact that the Chief Minister was not calling out those who were responsible for communal riots and was only referring to them as “criminals”.