'BJP made Waqf Act, TMC won't allow anybody to touch properties': Mamata

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday launched a fierce attack on the BJP-led Central Government over the amended Waqf Act, asserting that her party would not allow anyone to touch Waqf properties in the State.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee speaks during a public rally at Malda, on Wednesday. ANI

Her statement came amid an apparent contradiction— just four days after her own Government directed district magistrates to upload details of Waqf properties to the Centre's UMEED portal.

Addressing a party rally at Gazole in Malda district, Banerjee categorically blamed the BJP for creating the contentious legislation. “We won't follow the Act and have opposed it in the State legislative assembly. The State Government has filed a case in the Supreme Court. The case is still on and I won't allow anybody to touch the Waaf properties,” she declared, positioning herself as the protector of minority interests ahead of the crucial 2026 Assembly elections.

The Trinamool Congress supremo’s rhetoric was aimed to retain her party’s traditional Muslim vote bank, even as her administration complied with Central directives behind the scenes.

On Friday last week, the State Minority Affairs and Madrasah Education Department had sent detailed instructions to District Magistrates across West Bengal to begin uploading information on all undisputed Waqf properties to the Centre’s Unified Wagf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) portal by the December 6 deadline.