Massive U-turn! Mamata Banerjee finally bows to Centre’s Waqf law after months of fierce resistance

The move comes despite the law having triggered protests from sections of the Muslim community in several states.

According to reports, the state government has directed all District Magistrates (DMs) to upload details of undisputed Waqf properties on the Centre’s Unified Waqf Management, Empowerment, Efficiency and Development (UMEED) Portal. The Centre has instructed all states to complete the process by December 6.

Officials said DMs have also been asked to hold meetings with religious leaders, imams, muezzins and madrasa teachers to explain the data-uploading procedures.

“The directive sent to DMs lists four primary issues. They have been asked to convene meetings with imams, muezzins and madrasa teachers to explain the uploading procedure,” an official told The New Indian Express.

The Trinamool Congress government’s decision has surprised many, as Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier strongly opposed the law, even assuring Muslims in the state that her government would not implement it. The Act had sparked communal unrest in districts such as Malda and Murshidabad earlier this year.

Reacting to the development, the BJP claimed the move proved that no state could bypass a central law.

“After spending months provoking the Muslim community to oppose the Waqf Amendment Act, Mamata Banerjee has finally bowed to the law… All District Magistrates have now been instructed to upload details of every Waqf property onto the central UMEED portal,” BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya wrote on X.

The TMC government’s acceptance of the Act comes at a time when it is aggressively protesting the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, currently underway in 12 states, including West Bengal.

The ruling party has alleged that Block Level Officers (BLOs) are overburdened with SIR duties, leading to extreme stress and even suicides among some officials.

Mamata Banerjee has also intensified her attack on Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, accusing him of acting at the behest of the BJP’s top leadership.