'You say one thing here, another outside': Mamata Banerjee takes jibe at BJP over Waqf

NEW DELHI: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee took a jab at the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing them of having contrasting stances towards Muslims domestically and in West Asian nations.

Addressing Muslim clerics , she said, "You (BJP) are against Muslims, but in Saudi Arabia, you meet Muslims... If you go to Dubai, UAE, whose hospitality do you take there... You say one thing in your country and another outside."

She then urged the INDIA bloc for a unified opposition against the Waqf Amendment Act , which has faced significant resistance from Opposition parties. "I will appeal to the INDIA bloc: let us stay united and fight together courageously. This is not a personal matter; it will affect everyone. Today, it is happening against you. Tomorrow, it will be against someone else. Now they want to bring UCC," stated Mamata.

The West Bengal CM, addressing a meeting with Muslim religious leaders in Kolkata on Wednesday, had also hit out at key NDA allies Nitish Kumar and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu for maintaining silence on Waqf. "Why are Nitish Kumar and Chandrababu Naidu silent on this issue? They are NDA partners and they remained silent to share some power," she said.

These remarks drew a backlash from BJP's union minister Giriraj Singh who told reporters in Patna, "She wants to turn West Bengal into Bangladesh by making such comments. She has no right to make such comments against Nitish Kumar. She has failed to control violence in Murshidabad. Bihar will never become West Bengal."

This comes amid the Supreme Court indicating potential interim measures to suspend specific elements of the recently enacted Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, whilst expressing concerns regarding the unrest in West Bengal's Murshidabad district.

A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justices PV Sanjay Kumar and KV Viswanathan stated, "The one thing is very disturbing the violence that is taking place. The issue is before the court and we will decide."

Although no formal order was issued, the bench suggested suspending provisions regarding non-Muslim inclusion in Central Waqf Council and Waqf Boards, collectors' authority over Waqf property disputes, and regulations about de-notifying court-declared waqf properties.

The Supreme Court was reviewing multiple petitions challenging the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025's constitutional validity. The bench indicated its intention to issue an interim order balancing various interests during the proceedings.

President Droupadi Murmu on April 5 approved the Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2025, following its passage through Parliament after extensive discussions in both Houses.