Lucknow, April 15, 2025 – Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath sparked a firestorm Monday, declaring “danda (stick) is the only treatment” for rioters linked to West Bengal’s Waqf Board protests, speaking at a Lucknow rally. His jab targeted clashes in Murshidabad, where stone-pelting over Waqf land surveys left 12 injured, including cops, last week (NDTV). The remark, tied to BJP’s push for Waqf Act reforms, has Bengal’s TMC crying foul as elections loom.
“Lawlessness gets one answer—danda,” Yogi said, alleging TMC “shields goons” while Waqf’s 3.7 lakh acres breed corruption (The Indian Express). Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee hit back, calling it “hate speech” inciting violence (The Hindu). “He’s no saint—check UP’s riots,” she snapped at a Kolkata presser. The Waqf (Amendment) Bill, 2024—adding non-Muslims to boards—has fueled tensions; Bengal’s 27% Muslim vote is a 2026 prize (ECI). X splits hard—“Yogi’s right, crush chaos!” vs. “He’s stoking fire!” (post:2).
Murshidabad’s unrest followed notices to reclaim 1,200 acres—locals fear eviction (Times of India). Yogi’s UP bulldozed 3,500 illegal structures in 2024, earning him “Bulldozer Baba” clout (India Today). But Bengal’s 2024 riots—42 dead, per NCRB—show no easy fix. “It’s politics, not peace,” a Kolkata trader told The Economic Times. BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari doubled down, demanding central forces (Business Standard).
For India, it’s a powder keg—Waqf’s Rs 12,000 crore assets tempt power plays (The Hindu). Yogi’s danda talk rallies his base but risks alienating moderates. Will it spark more clashes, or force Bengal’s hand?
