BJP’s Silence as TMC Supporters Encroach on 3,365 Waqf Properties in Bengal
– Are Political Deals Undermining Minority Rights?
Kolkata, April 13, 2025: A shocking 3,365 Waqf properties across West Bengal have fallen prey to illegal encroachments, with East Midnapore and Murshidabad emerging as the epicenters of this alarming trend. Allegations point towards Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders and workers spearheading these land grabs. Yet, the silence of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the primary opposition, has fueled speculation about tacit political collusion.
TMC’s Governance Under Scrutiny
Over the last 14 years under Mamata Banerjee’s leadership, the West Bengal Waqf Board has become largely dysfunctional. Despite the creation of 56 administrative posts in 2009-10, most positions have remained vacant since TMC assumed power in 2011. A senior Waqf official lamented, “The encroachers wield such influence that even law enforcement hesitates to intervene.”
This administrative neglect is glaring: out of 80,790 Waqf properties in the state, only 309 new assets have been officially documented over the past decade. Meanwhile, the illegally occupied properties continue to rise, casting a shadow on the government’s commitment to protecting minority resources.
BJP’s Role: Reform or Ruse?
The BJP-led central government’s amendment to the Waqf Act, 1995 has compounded the crisis. The recent changes stripped the Waqf Board and Tribunal of significant powers, transferring control to district magistrates (DMs). Critics argue that this shift serves both political giants:
- TMC consolidates power by leveraging district magistrates for political gains.
- BJP polarizes the electorate, potentially strengthening its narrative ahead of elections.
While Chief Minister Banerjee publicly declared that “this law will not be implemented in Bengal,” her administration’s inaction suggests a tacit compromise.
The Cost to the Muslim Community
For the state’s minority population, the stakes are high:
- Revenue losses: Waqf properties, vital sources of funding for minority welfare initiatives like schools, mosques, and hospitals, are being eroded.
- Judicial delays: With 376 cases pending, prolonged litigation ensures encroachers retain control.
- Political duplicity: Both TMC and BJP are accused of prioritizing political calculus over minority welfare, leaving the community vulnerable.
The Broader Implications
This isn’t merely a matter of illegal land occupation; it is a calculated dismantling of a system designed to safeguard minority rights. As both ruling and opposition parties remain complicit through inaction or strategic silence, West Bengal’s Muslim community is caught in a precarious position.
Will the judiciary or civil society rise to the occasion, or will this betrayal go unchallenged?
Also Read:
The Political Nexus Behind Waqf Land Encroachments
BJP’s Questionable Minority Outreach Initiatives
Unpacking West Bengal’s Persistent Land Scandals
