New Delhi, April 19: BJP leader and actor Mithun Chakraborty strongly criticised the West Bengal government over the recent violence in Murshidabad in which three people were killed, alleging targeted attacks against the Hindu community and remarked that they have become refugees.

Speaking to Media, Chakraborty remarked, “Hindus have become refugees in Bengal. Bullying and muscle power is running everywhere here. We don’t want any riots, we don’t want any conflict. We have always demanded fair elections, but they simply don’t allow it.”

When asked whether Hindus were being deliberately targeted in Bengal, Chakraborty responded, “The Waqf Act is just an excuse. There’s a different agenda behind them. The new Waqf Act is meant for our Muslim brothers and sisters, but what’s really happening is that political leaders have grabbed land for their own use, some have built godowns, some have rented them out for profit. If this money had gone to support the Muslim community, to help their women, it would have been something else. But instead, the leaders are enjoying it themselves.”

He further added, “Hindus have been displaced, their homes destroyed. They never opposed anyone, they didn’t protest, yet their houses were burned and ruined. Now, they’re surviving on khichdi in temporary shelters. They’ve been made homeless. What was their fault?”

Responding to the question of whether Muslims are being given a free hand under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government, Chakraborty claimed, “If Madam (Mamata Banerjee) wants, she can stop all this in one day. But she hasn’t taken any strict action against even one person yet. The situation is such that now, Sanatani Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, none of them will vote for this party.

“Their traditional vote bank is shifting, so to keep their core voters happy, they’re allowing these things to happen. Even if someone dies, it doesn’t matter to them.”

This development comes amid heightened political tension in the state following the April 11 violence in Murshidabad’s Dhulian area.

The unrest erupted during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, resulting in the deaths of three individuals and injuries to several others.

The incident triggered a political storm, with both the state and central leadership trading accusations.

Patna, April 19: After the first Coordination Committee meeting of the Grand Alliance (Mahagathbandhan) was held, preparations are now in full swing for the second round of discussions, which will take place on April 24 at the Congress state headquarters, Sadaqat Ashram, in Patna.

The meeting will be attended by the Coordination Committee Chairman Tejashwi Yadav, State Congress in-charge Krishna Allavaru, State Congress President Rajesh Ram, Vikassheel Insaan Party (VIP) Chief Mukesh Sahani, and representatives of the Left parties, including CPI-ML, CPI, and CPI-M.

According to Congress sources, this meeting will focus on preparations for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections, strategising a joint campaign across the state and launching a mass movement against the state government starting in May, with joint rallies and programmes planned across districts.

While the final seat-sharing formula will not be determined in this meeting, parties are expected to present their initial seat demands, paving the way for negotiations.

The Vikassheel Insaan Party, which was not part of the Grand Alliance in the 2020 Assembly elections, is now included — necessitating an adjustment in the previous seat-sharing arrangement.

As per the seat-sharing formula among the constituent parties of the Grand Alliance in 2020, RJD contested on 144 seats, Congress: 70, CPI-ML: 19, CPI: 6 and CPI(M): 4.

As the VIP is included in the Grand Alliance, their seats are expected to reduce.

A Congress leader confirmed that no decision will be taken on the chief ministerial face in the upcoming meeting, reiterating the party’s stance, as expressed by Krishna Allavaru during the April 17 session.

However, RJD leaders, including Rajya Sabha MP Manoj Jha and state spokesperson Mrityunjay Tiwari, have continued to assert that Tejashwi Yadav will be the chief ministerial face of the Grand Alliance.

Their remarks made a day after the April 17 meeting, are being seen as an indirect pushback to Allavaru’s neutral stand.

Despite the pressure, the Congress maintains its position that the CM candidate will be decided at a later stage, possibly closer to the upcoming Assembly elections.

The April 24 meeting is expected to lay the groundwork for unified campaign efforts while highlighting the emerging tussle over leadership projection within the alliance.

Delhi News: A delegation of the Dawoodi Bohra community met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday (April 17). During this, the Dawoodi Bohra community expressed gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi for recently passing the Waqf Amendment Act 2025. The community described the Waqf Amendment Act as a long-pending demand. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju was also present with the Prime Minister during this meeting.

The delegation of the Dawoodi Bohra community, who came to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi, said that this law was being demanded for a long time through the Dawoodi Bohra community, which has now been fulfilled by the government. The delegation said that this has strengthened the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’.

PM Modi gave this assurance
The delegation of the Dawoodi Bohra community met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and expressed its full faith in the policy of ‘Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, Sabka Vishwas’. He said that the decisions taken by the government promote the inclusion and progress of all sections. The delegation appreciated the positive changes taking place under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi and thanked him for his efforts. The Prime Minister also interacted with the representatives of the community and appreciated their contribution and assured that the government is committed to the equal development of all communities.

Who is the Dawoodi Bohra community
The Dawoodi Bohra community belongs to the Muslim sect, which is mainly from West India and whose members are settled in more than 40 countries of the world. The Dawoodi Bohra community connects its heritage to the Fatimi Imams, direct descendants of Prophet Muhammad in Egypt. Dawoodi Bohras around the world are guided by their leader Al-Dai al-Mutlaq (unrestricted preacher), who earlier operated from Yemen and has been operating from India for the last 450 years.