Kolkata: Muslim religious figures and community intellectuals on Monday appealed to people to stay away from street protests and avoid confrontation with the government after violence and injuries occurred during a Park Circus gathering on Sunday.
Background of the Incident
The appeals came after clashes broke out during an unauthorised protest linked to the partial demolition of two buildings in Tiljala, which authorities stated had been constructed illegally. One of these buildings witnessed a fire last Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of two individuals.
Community Leaders' Statements
Shahood Alam, general secretary of the All India Milli Council, West Bengal, said, "We repeatedly appealed to people not to respond to such calls or engage in any kind of protest. This is a new government, and it must be given time to address issues through dialogue." He further emphasised, "We should meet government representatives to explain our concerns and work together to resolve matters. There should be no confrontation with the administration over issues such as illegal constructions, offering prayers on roads, or animal sacrifice."
Several community figures expressed uncertainty about who had organised the gathering and cautioned against responding to calls circulated on social media. Abdul Aziz, secretary of the Milli Etihad Parishad, stated, "Nobody knew clearly who was organising the protest. Such gatherings can easily be misused by disruptive elements, creating unrest. Going forward, nobody must respond to such calls for protests."
Social Media Appeals
Social media platforms were flooded with appeals urging restraint. One widely circulated message noted that sensitive matters required "responsible and restrained handling" and urged people not to respond to online calls for assembly. Maulana Shabbir Misbahi, imam of Royd Street Jama Masjid, said, "Some people fell into the trap as the appeal was circulated by unknown individuals, and no one has come forward to take responsibility for it. This is not the right way to voice concerns. I would request the government to forgive them as they were misled."
