Communal Carnage in Murshidabad: TMC, Leftist Media Blame Hindus and Shield Islamists

As communal violence gripped Murshidabad, leaders of the All India Trinamool Congress, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (AITC or TMC), focused on downplaying the crisis, engaging in a blame game, and even accusing Hindus from other states while undermining the suffering of the victims. Similarly, Islamists and their liberal supporters, such as The Wire and Newslaundry, sought to downplay the anti-Hindu riots, presenting them as a reaction to concerns about the Waqf Amendment Act.

Security forces patrol Dhulian area in Murshidabad district of West Bengal, Tuesday. (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

They blamed the mainstream media for exaggerating what they described as a “normal situation” and cast doubt on the legitimacy of the Hindu minority’s suffering in Murshidabad. Arfa Khanum Sherwani of “The Wire” admitted that her fellow Muslims were responsible for the destruction in Murshidabad and that even the authorities were complicit. However, she suggested that the videos emerging from the region might not be genuine or recent.

She argued that these videos were being circulated to "exaggerate the incidents," as though the turmoil, victim testimonies, and reports from the area weren’t enough to stir the conscience of any average person. Predictably, she also reiterated the controversial narrative that the Waqf law amendment was an attempt to discriminate against Muslims.

She claimed, “Opposition leaders, Muslim organisations and those who believe in democracy, liberalism and equality have been worried that attempts are being made to provoke Muslims through the law and now Muslims have reacted. This is a conspiracy that needs to be understood.” What she essentially implies is that if the second-largest majority in the country disagrees with a law, they may react with a tantrum, which would then be viewed as a provocation and interpreted as a conspiracy against them.

The truth, however, is that the real conspiracy in this situation was directed against the Hindu community, as they were unfairly blamed for the passage of the act. Ironically, she claimed that the opposition and Muslim leaders were concerned about the unrest, when, in reality, these very individuals played a key role in inciting their supporters to protest against the law with their misleading rhetoric and propaganda.

Arfa quickly shifted to criticizing the saffron party and accused “This seems to be a deliberate plan, very similar to what the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) may have intended as a byproduct of the law. The situation has unfolded exactly as they might have wanted. This law has become a tool in the BJP’s hands, just ahead of the 2026 elections in West Bengal, which are just a year away.” Her comment appeared to suggest that the BJP had incited the Islamists to riot, or perhaps it was an acknowledgment that these radicals often resort to unrest under the pretext of protests whenever they disagree, and that the party should have anticipated this.

Moreover, the legislation isn't limited to West Bengal; it applies to the entire country, making the argument about elections both illogical and baseless. It’s also important to recognize that in India, elections are held at different times across various states each year. Does this mean the central government must factor in election schedules to avoid making decisions out of fear of criticism or backlash? Is this how governments are meant to operate and nations are governed?

Distorted Truths and Absurd Comparisons

"Just two months ago, surveys showed that Mamata Banerjee’s support base had not diminished, despite 15 years of anti-incumbency. In fact, the BJP was up by only 1%. This means there is still strong support for Mamata Banerjee," Arfa argued, accusing the BJP of taking advantage of the situation. Her concerns seemed more focused on the state elections and the negative impact of the violence on Mamata Banerjee’s chances of winning, rather than the issues faced by the Hindu victims.

She then made exaggerated comparisons with the Karni Sena and even described the Shaheen Bagh protests—which were central to the anti-Hindu riots in Delhi—and the farmers’ protests, which were marred by violence, including the attack on the Red Fort and assaults on police officers during Republic Day, as peaceful demonstrations.

She completely rejected the idea that the Hindu community was being targeted, stating that they are the majority in the state. “BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari claims that this is religious persecution and an attack on Hindus. Such twisting of facts is concerning. Yes, one-third of West Bengal’s population is Muslim, but two-thirds are not. Still, a narrative is being spun that Hindus are under attack,” Arfa shamelessly declared. “West Bengal is a state with a large Muslim population, the second highest in India. Every third person here is Muslim,” she had stated earlier.

If the dreadful events in Murshidabad don't constitute religious persecution, then what does? The region is primarily Muslim, and the minority was targeted solely because of their religious beliefs. While the Muslims were untouched, the Hindus had no choice but to flee in order to safeguard their lives.

She pointed out the inflammatory comments made by West Bengal Minister Siddiqullah Chowdhury and subsequently expressed her admiration for Mamata Banerjee. “She is a strong, resilient leader, a street fighter who has never learned to bow down or accept defeat. She has a massive following, tight administrative control, and is a self-made politician, not born of dynastic privilege. Her contribution to women’s empowerment in Bengal is remarkable,” she lauded the TMC chief.

Women in Murshidabad have endured molestation and rape threats from Muslim mobs, highlighting the dire situation. Is this the empowerment of Hindu women in West Bengal? The failures of Mamata Banerjee’s administration and governance are evident, particularly in the riot-affected areas. The reality is that both Mamata Banerjee's power and that of the opposition seem to have crumbled, overshadowed by vote bank politics.

News Channels to Blame, No Hindu Persecution

On April 15th, Newslaundry released an article titled, “Bhaijaan ka plan, Kashmiri Pandits, Israel protest: TV spin to Murshidabad violence” attacking the news channels for reporting on the miserable condition of Hindus in Murshidabad in the wake of Islamist violence. “If mainstream news channels are to be believed, the eastern West Bengal district is a hub of ‘terrorism’ where a ‘Hindu exodus’ is underway as government authorities look the other way,” the article mocked.

It further alleged, “There have been reports of hundreds fleeing their homes to escape the violence. But no substantiated evidence has emerged so far confirming systematic targeting based on religious identity at such a scale. The narrative of Hindus being specifically victimised has primarily originated from Hindutva-affiliated sources and political actors, especially the BJP camp.”

It is unrealistic to expect this media outlet to be transparent, especially if it risks upsetting its core audience. Nevertheless, it is quite bold for them to mislead their readers, assuming they are naive enough to accept whatever narrative the platform pushes. Numerous videos have surfaced online documenting the persecution of Hindus in Murshidabad, leading to their forced displacement.

Their homes have been set on fire, looted, and vandalized. Hindu women have been subjected to molestation and rape threats. They have been coerced into sexual relations with their abusers in exchange for the safety of the men in their families. Several women have fled with their newborns to escape the violence. The drinking water in Hindu households has been poisoned. Hindus, including minors, have been assaulted, robbed, and threatened with death by Muslim assailants. The situation closely mirrors that of Bangladesh and Pakistan.

However, for Newslaundry, it seems that even a Taliban-style execution of Hindus would not be enough to convey the community's suffering. Like The Wire, Newslaundry seems dedicated to spreading distortion and misinformation in the guise of reporting facts. While they are fully aware that the attacks are motivated by religious hatred against Hindus, they persist in downplaying the severity of the violence targeting this community.

The article added, “While the West Bengal government and the state police are yet to make any official statements about claims of Hindus being forced to ‘flee’ Murshidabad, the Calcutta High Court has asked the state and the central government to submit detailed reports on the situation.” Which government would truly be honest and openly admit that the situation is critically dire in the state it governs, especially a party like TMC that depends largely on the Muslim community as its primary voter base?

But if everything truly was in order, why did the Calcutta High Court feel the need to intervene? What prompted the deployment of central forces in West Bengal? Are the testimonies of victims and the state reports fabricated? Are we to believe that Hindus are staging attacks on themselves just to implicate Islamists?

Additionally, Newslaundry alleged that the “news channels have thrown all (Press Council of India) regulations out the window and made unsubstantiated claims about Hindus becoming ‘refugees in their own country.’ Some invoked the plight of Kashmiri Pandits, some claimed a terrorist link to the violence, while some alleged a Bangladesh connection.” Although it's important to avoid jumping to conclusions, when a community is forced to flee its home because of violence inflicted by another group, what else can they be called if not refugees?

Were Kashmiri Pandits not also forced to flee their homes due to Islamic terrorism? Yet, this group even denies their suffering and mocks films like "The Kashmir Files," which courageously brought their story to the big screen. It is well-known that Murshidabad shares a border with Bangladesh, and the illegal influx from Bangladesh into India is a documented reality.

Bangladeshi extremists, allegedly backed by local political leaders, are said to have played a role in the recent unrest in Murshidabad. Intelligence reports indicate that the violence in the region was carried out by members of two extremist groups from Bangladesh—Ansarullah Bangla Team (ABT) and Jamaat-ul Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB). These groups, with the assistance of local political party leaders, were responsible for the violence. The Union Home Ministry is closely monitoring the situation.

Accusing BJP and Hindus While Deflecting Blame

One of the prominent figures among extremist Muslims, Rana Ayyub, shared a tweet by Sagarika Ghose, a Rajya Sabha member from TMC, which allegedly cited a man’s claim that non-local teenagers were attacking Hindus, while local Hindu and Muslim youth were protecting the temple. The concept of the temple human chain has been heavily used by this group, losing its originality and impact. Furthermore, these two so-called journalists aimed to shift the blame from Islamists to outside forces, thereby minimizing the struggles of the Hindu community.

The propaganda article published by Newslaundry was also shared by the radical Mohammed Zubair, associated with Alt News, known for catering to Muslim extremists under the guise of fact-checking. All of them have been intent on helping the perpetrators by distorting the facts to suit their narrative. The values of truth, justice, and human rights they claim to uphold are nowhere to be found, as they do not align with their agenda. These high-minded principles are nothing more than tools for advancing their propaganda.

Saba Naqvi claimed that the violent protests against the Waqf Act only benefit the forces behind the legislation. However, she failed to explain how, since those behind the riots do not support or vote for the BJP. In fact, they support “secular” parties like the TMC, which explains the opposition leaders’ seemingly submissive behavior and their constant efforts to appease them.

She invoked the name of Mahatma Gandhi and the idea of peaceful protests, fully aware that Muslim extremists have no regard for either. These statements are carefully crafted to deceive the unsuspecting.

Ravish Kumar, another spokesperson for this notorious ecosystem and self-proclaimed journalist, quickly came to the defense of the rioters, claiming that reports coming out of the state were exaggerated and unreliable. He argued that the accounts of violence in West Bengal should not be accepted without scrutiny, asserting that many of these reports were pushed by what he calls “Godi media,” a derogatory term for news outlets that do not share his skewed ideology.

Conclusion

The Islamo-Leftist alliance is predictably downplaying the violent attacks on Hindus, asserting that they are not specifically directed at the community. However, if this is the case, one must ask why there have been no complaints from the Muslim community and why it is primarily Hindus who are being forced to flee their homes. Why are Hindus the only ones suffering, while the other community remains largely unaffected by these brutal events?

The reality is that, no matter how powerful the propaganda, it cannot obscure the truth that Hindus have been targeted, not just in Murshidabad but in other regions as well, due to their faith. The Waqf Act is merely a convenient excuse for those who commit violence against Hindus, knowing that parties like the TMC cannot afford to alienate them, given their dependence on their votes. Additionally, their media supporters will swiftly defend them, no matter their actions. This pattern, which has been repeated for decades, is again on display in Murshidabad.

Just like the TMC, these individuals also aim to distort the truth and shift blame onto everyone but the true perpetrators.

(This Article was originally published by OpIndia)