As videos and photographs purportedly showing people fleeing violence-hit Murshidabad in West Bengal circulated on social media, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Sunday alleged a conspiracy, claiming the visuals were fake. In contrast, the opposition BJP asserted that the exodus reflected real and ongoing religious persecution in the state.
Violence erupted in the Suti and Samserganj blocks of Murshidabad district following protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, resulting in at least three deaths, several injuries, and numerous shops being set ablaze. Since Friday, hundreds of people have reportedly fled the affected areas.
TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose and party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh accused the BJP of circulating misleading content. Sharing a post by the state BJP that included images of violence allegedly during nine Hindu festivals in West Bengal, Ghose claimed on social media platform X that none of the incidents occurred in the state. She provided a list of alternate locations, including Assam, Lucknow, Jalandhar, and Karnataka, where the photos were actually taken.
“This is part of the BJP’s campaign of lies, communal polarisation, and political incitement,” Ghose said, urging the police to take action against the dissemination of false information.
Kunal Ghosh added that the violence in Murshidabad was indeed unfortunate but insisted that the Bengal government was taking firm action to restore order. “Violence will not be tolerated, and strict punishment will follow regardless of the perpetrators’ community or religion,” he said.
He further accused the BJP of trying to exploit the situation for political gain. “Parties that cannot win democratically are resorting to misinformation and creating unrest. They are also misusing central agencies to further their agenda,” Ghosh said, dismissing the BJP’s claims as part of a larger strategy of religious polarisation.
