NEW DELHI: Firing a salvo at Union Home Minister Amit Shah, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused the BSF of allowing infiltration from Bangladesh to destabilise the state, calling it the Centre’s “nefarious blueprint”.
The CM said during an administrative meeting that the Border Security Force (BSF), which guards West Bengal’s border with Bangladesh, was allowing infiltration into the state. Banerjee’s remarks follow Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s charge made earlier saying “infiltration from Bangladesh” was disrupting peace in Bengal.
Mamata Banerjee said, “The BSF is allowing infiltration from different areas into Bengal. The TMC is not guarding the borders. The border is not in our hands, so if someone accuses the TMC of permitting infiltration, it must be pointed out that it was the BSF’s responsibility”.
Banerjee said she would write a strong letter to the Centre regarding the BSF allowing infiltration from Bangladesh.
Stating that it is important to maintain peace in West Bengal and also have good relations with Bangladesh, Mamata Banerjee said, “We have no enmity, but goons are being allowed here. They commit crimes and return across the border. BSF is enabling this, and the Centre has a role in it.”
Slamming Banerjee for the remarks, BJP leader Sukanta Majumdar said she “has reached the ultimate level of delusion”. The Union Minister and BJP West Bengal chief said in a post on X (formerly Twitter), “Despite not providing land to set up outposts for border surveillance, she used to blame the Border Security Force for illegal infiltration. But now, crossing all limits of accusations, she has started blaming her own administration’s officials! According to her, the incompetent DMs and SPs under her administration are allowing foreign criminals to infiltrate the border to murder the elected representatives of her party.”
Arvind Kejriwal also questioned the BJP on the issue. Kejriwal asked, “Is the Centre deliberately allowing infiltration from the Bangladesh border or is the BJP government failing to protect the border?”