<p>The anti-Waqf Act protests in <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/west-bengal">West Bengal’s</a> Murshidabad district have led to communal violence which has taken three lives and caused many people to flee their homes. Trouble has erupted in other areas as well, with protesting groups clashing with the police, leading to the arrests of many people. The communal fault lines in the state have been exploited by all political parties, and it is not different this time. </p><p>Those who protested against the Waqf Act had the backing of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) which has a large support base in the Muslim community. The community has serious apprehensions about the Act which they fear will lead to the government taking control of waqf properties. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly made assurances that Muslims’ interests would be protected. But she also wrongly declared that the Act would not be implemented in the state.</p>.<p>The BJP – the main Opposition party in the state – has pandered to the Hindu majority sentiments. The recent Ramnavami processions in the state had strong communal overtones and had the BJP’s backing. The BJP has accused the TMC of creating communal strife to divert attention from the setback the Mamata Banerjee government received when the Supreme Court cancelled the appointment of over 25,000 school teachers. </p>.'Bengal burning but Mamata calls rioters peacemakers': Adityanath slams TMC chief amid Waqf violence .<p>The state police failed to control the violence from the beginning. The deaths, destruction of property and the flight of people from their homes could have been avoided had the government taken effective steps to control the situation. The intelligence machinery also failed to alert the administration about the emerging situation. Central forces have now been deployed in the violence-hit areas.</p>.<p>Communal violence is not just about law and order. The undercurrent and motives are often political and they are not spontaneous or results of situations suddenly going out of control as part of mob action. In West Bengal, both the TMC and the BJP are blaming each other. The blame is also being placed on entire communities while the violence was set off by a few troublemakers. There are demands from the BJP for the imposition of the AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) in the violence-hit areas. The TMC, meanwhile, has criticised the BJP for spreading fake images of violence on social media to instigate trouble. Both have their sights set on the Assembly elections to be held next year. The lesson that riding the communal tiger harms society and themselves is lost on the parties.</p>
<p>The anti-Waqf Act protests in <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/west-bengal">West Bengal’s</a> Murshidabad district have led to communal violence which has taken three lives and caused many people to flee their homes. Trouble has erupted in other areas as well, with protesting groups clashing with the police, leading to the arrests of many people. The communal fault lines in the state have been exploited by all political parties, and it is not different this time. </p><p>Those who protested against the Waqf Act had the backing of the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) which has a large support base in the Muslim community. The community has serious apprehensions about the Act which they fear will lead to the government taking control of waqf properties. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly made assurances that Muslims’ interests would be protected. But she also wrongly declared that the Act would not be implemented in the state.</p>.<p>The BJP – the main Opposition party in the state – has pandered to the Hindu majority sentiments. The recent Ramnavami processions in the state had strong communal overtones and had the BJP’s backing. The BJP has accused the TMC of creating communal strife to divert attention from the setback the Mamata Banerjee government received when the Supreme Court cancelled the appointment of over 25,000 school teachers. </p>.'Bengal burning but Mamata calls rioters peacemakers': Adityanath slams TMC chief amid Waqf violence .<p>The state police failed to control the violence from the beginning. The deaths, destruction of property and the flight of people from their homes could have been avoided had the government taken effective steps to control the situation. The intelligence machinery also failed to alert the administration about the emerging situation. Central forces have now been deployed in the violence-hit areas.</p>.<p>Communal violence is not just about law and order. The undercurrent and motives are often political and they are not spontaneous or results of situations suddenly going out of control as part of mob action. In West Bengal, both the TMC and the BJP are blaming each other. The blame is also being placed on entire communities while the violence was set off by a few troublemakers. There are demands from the BJP for the imposition of the AFSPA (Armed Forces Special Powers Act) in the violence-hit areas. The TMC, meanwhile, has criticised the BJP for spreading fake images of violence on social media to instigate trouble. Both have their sights set on the Assembly elections to be held next year. The lesson that riding the communal tiger harms society and themselves is lost on the parties.</p>
