Jaipur, April 20, 2025:
Members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) staged a strong protest in Jaipur on Saturday, burning an effigy of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in response to the recent violence in Murshidabad district. The demonstration, held at the city’s busy Badi Chaupar area, drew sharp slogans against the Trinamool Congress (TMC) government and its alleged inaction during the unrest.
VHP leaders accused the West Bengal administration of failing to protect the Hindu community during the clashes that erupted earlier this week in Murshidabad and parts of Malda following protests related to Waqf property disputes. The violence left several injured and led to the displacement of dozens of families, prompting national concern.
Addressing the protestors, senior VHP functionaries condemned what they described as a “deliberate silence” by the West Bengal government. “Hindus are under attack in Murshidabad, and Mamata Banerjee has turned a blind eye. This protest is a warning — if the violence continues and justice is not delivered, the nationwide agitation will intensify,” said VHP Rajasthan secretary Prakash Sharma.
Protestors demanded immediate intervention from the central government and called for a judicial inquiry into the incidents of violence. They also sought compensation and rehabilitation for the victims who, they claimed, were primarily from the Hindu community.
Police maintained a close watch on the protest, which remained largely peaceful aside from the symbolic burning of the effigy. Security was tightened in key areas of Jaipur to prevent any escalation.
The effigy-burning incident has sparked political reactions across party lines. While the VHP and aligned groups continue to press for nationwide protests, TMC leaders have dismissed the demonstrations as politically motivated and misleading.
The situation in Murshidabad remains tense but under control, with central forces deployed and West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose visiting relief camps in the region to assess the ground situation.
As political and communal tensions simmer, all eyes are now on the state and central leaderships to bring resolution and accountability in the wake of the violence.
