On November 28, 2024, Kolkata witnessed large-scale protests as both Muslim and Hindu groups took to the streets, leading to a traffic gridlock in the city. Muslim organisations, led by the West Bengal State Jamiat-e-Ulama, gathered at Esplanade to demand the withdrawal of the proposed Waqf Amendment Bill, which they argued infringes on their constitutional rights and threatens Waqf properties. Jamiat-e-Ulama president Siddiqullah Chowdhury emphasized that the amendment attacked the Constitution and called for a united effort against religious division by the government. Additionally, protesters rallied for a free Palestinian state.
Simultaneously, the Bangiya Hindu Jagaran group organized a procession from Sealdah Railway Station to the Bangladesh High Commission, protesting against the alleged persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh and demanding the release of ISKCON priest Chinmoy Krishna Das. The march turned tense when police stopped it, leading to brief clashes. Hindu leaders criticized efforts to destabilize Hindu-Muslim harmony in India and Bangladesh. Though the police initially stopped the rally, representatives were later allowed to present their grievances at the High Commission. The protests highlighted deepening sectarian strife, reflecting broader regional tensions.
Original Story https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/protests-by-hindu-and-muslim-organisations-choke-streets-of-kolkata/article68923058.ece
Category : West Bengal
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