Issues of faith must be approached with inclusivity and mutual trust to avoid flare ups
In a nation as diverse as India, policies that touch religious life must be crafted with sensitivity, consultation, and fairness. Otherwise, what begins as lawmaking in Parliament risks becoming lawbreaking on the streets. Murshidabad, West Bengal, the latest flashpoint in sectarian violence, bears testimony to this. It has become the epicentre of communal tension following violent protests over the recently passed Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025. In Murshidabad, a district with a Muslim majority, protests turned violent on April 11–12, leading to the deaths of three people and over 150 arrests. Protesters, many affiliated with groups like the Social Democratic Party, clashed with police and allegedly targeted properties of other communities.
What began as demonstrations against the Central Government’s move to reform the management of Islamic charitable properties has now escalated into deadly riot and clashes between the communities. Reportedly some 400 Hindu families have moved out of the district fearing for their life. Passed earlier this month by Parliament, the Waqf Amendment Bill, 2025, introduces structural changes to how Waqf properties are governed across India.
Waqf, an Islamic endowment of property for religious or charitable purposes, includes an estimated lakhs of crores of assets such as mosques, shrines, graveyards, and commercial land. What is frowned upon by the Muslims is the inclusion of non-Muslims in Waqf board management and centralised oversight mechanisms to address alleged corruption and mismanagement. Besides, greater government authority over registration and use of Waqf land.
While the Government argues that the amendments aim to enhance transparency and accountability, many Muslims view it as a targeted encroachment on their religious autonomy. Unlike other religious institutions in India, Muslim endowments would now potentially be overseen by those outside the faith — a move critics say undermines constitutional guarantees of minority rights. The Muslims see it as an attempt to infringe their religious rights as the bill singles out Muslim institutions for reform while leaving others untouched, reinforcing a narrative of discrimination. Inclusion of non-Muslims in managing Waqf boards is seen as a violation of religious self-governance.
Moreover, there are anxieties that Waqf lands could be taken over or repurposed under the guise of regulatory control. Ironically, the WAqf Bill may not be implemented in West Bengal as Mamata has assured people but then the protests turned into a game of political one-upmanship. The opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP has accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s Trinamool Congress (TMC) Government of enabling “radical elements” and allowing a breakdown of law and order. Such demographic shifts can leave lasting scars, deepening mistrust and setting a precedent for further segregation along religious lines. Banerjee’s administration is now walking a tightrope — balancing the concerns of a large Muslim population while also addressing the security concerns of minority Hindus in districts like Murshidabad.
This latest communal riot is unfortunate. People can have genuine grievances against the government policies but it does not give them right to target other community. It is the responsibility of the State Government to maintain law and order in the state and protect people’s life and property.
The violence in Murshidabad is a wake-up call. It is not merely about a Bill, but about trust, representation, and the fragile fabric of Indian secularism. The State and Central Governments must work in tandem — not at odds — to prevent further communal alienation.
