In the wake of protests in Murshidabad's Beldanga, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a strong attack against the Trinamool Congress (TMC), alleging a collapse of governance in West Bengal. The protests, which disrupted vehicular movement by blocking National Highway 12 and burning tires, stemmed from the alleged targeting and torture of migrant workers from West Bengal in other states. Demonstrators claim these workers face atrocities for speaking Bengali.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has responded to the situation by accusing the BJP of planning to incite riots in the state, claiming the BJP realized it wouldn't win the 2026 assembly elections. Banerjee stated that the "anger of the minority community was legitimate," referencing the violence against migrant workers outside of West Bengal and alleging that Bengali-speaking laborers are being tortured specifically in BJP-ruled states. She affirmed her support for the affected families.
The BJP's criticism extends beyond the migrant worker issue. Recent unrest in Beldanga, Murshidabad, following reports of an offensive message at a Kartik Puja pandal, led to violence and arson. Houses were ransacked, and vehicles damaged as groups from different communities clashed, prompting police intervention. Prohibitory orders were imposed to prevent gatherings. BJP leader Amit Malviya condemned the violence and accused the TMC government and police of inaction, decrying the state as a "graveyard for Hindus" where festivals are attacked.
Earlier in April 2025, the BJP had already intensified its attacks on the TMC, with leaders like Dilip Ghosh alleging that the conditions for Hindus in Murshidabad were worse than in Bangladesh and accusing Mamata Banerjee of deliberately targeting Hindus before elections. These accusations came amidst controversy surrounding the National Commission for Women's (NCW) visit to the area, which the TMC dismissed as a "scripted plot". BJP MP Sambit Patra has also stated that Mamata Banerjee "hates Hindus," questioning her absence from violence-hit areas. He further accused the CPI(M) of not recognizing two killed during the clashes as its workers because "they were Hindus".
In April 2025, Murshidabad was tense after riots connected to the Waqf Amendment Act resulted in casualties, arson, and disrupted transportation. The Calcutta High Court mandated paramilitary deployment in sensitive areas, and over 150 arrests were made. The BJP alleged that Bengali Hindus were being displaced, while controversy arose over TMC MP Yusuf Pathan's social media activity during the crisis.
