Web Desk
April 14, 2025
Following the passage of a controversial Waqf Bill in India, widespread unrest has erupted across several states, with West Bengal witnessing some of the most intense protests.
In Murshidabad, demonstrations turned violent, leading to the deaths of three individuals and the arrest of over 150 protestors. As tensions remain high, internet services have been suspended, and security forces continue their crackdown.
Protestors argue that the bill is an attack on the religious and social rights of Muslims. Human rights groups have criticized the government’s response, calling it a threat to democratic freedoms.
Amid this turmoil, BJP MP Jyotirmoy Singh Mahato has written to Home Minister Amit Shah, demanding the imposition of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in West Bengal. The act, often referred to as a “black law,” grants security forces sweeping powers, including arrests without warrant, warrantless searches, and unrestricted use of force.
Analysts suggest that the use of AFSPA is aimed at silencing a particular religious community and could severely undermine the democratic fabric of the nation.
The question now looms large:
Is West Bengal becoming a militarized zone?
And has religious identity turned into a liability in modern India?
