Mamata accuses BSF of enabling infiltration; BJP calls Bengal a 'nursery for Bangladeshi influx'
Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday accused central forces of enabling infiltration from Bangladesh, alleging it was part of the Centre's "nefarious blueprint" to destabilise the state, media reports said.
During an administrative meeting, Banerjee claimed that the Border Security Force (BSF), responsible for guarding the Indo-Bangladesh border, was facilitating illegal entry into Bengal and torturing women.
"The BSF is allowing infiltration from different areas into Bengal and torturing women. The TMC is not guarding the borders. The border is not in our hands, so if someone accuses the TMC of permitting infiltration, I will point out that it is the BSF's responsibility," she said, reported India Today.
Banerjee stated that she would direct the state's Director General of Police (DGP) to investigate the locations where infiltration was occurring.
"The police have all the information, and the Centre has it too. I have received information from Rajiv Kumar (DGP) and local sources. I will write a strong letter to the Centre regarding this," she added.
The chief minister also emphasised her commitment to peace in Bengal and Bangladesh, while accusing the BSF of allowing "goons" to cross the border, commit crimes, and return.
"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," she remarked, warning of protests against any attempts to fuel terror in the state.
Her comments come weeks after Union Home Minister Amit Shah highlighted concerns over "infiltration from Bangladesh" disrupting Bengal’s peace.
This issue has further heightened tensions between the TMC and BJP as the state gears up for Assembly elections next year.
In response, Union Minister Giriraj Singh criticised Banerjee, alleging that her actions were turning Bengal into a "nursery for Bangladeshi infiltration."
"Whoever is being caught is a Bangladeshi, and most of their addresses are from Bengal. Mamata didi is doing all this out of greed for votes, and turning Bengal into a gateway for Bangladeshi Muslims and Rohingyas," Singh was quoted as saying by India Today.
Meanwhile, atrocities against Hindus in Bangladesh are happening, and the whole world is witnessing this."
The accusations come amid the heightened BSF vigilance along the border, following political turmoil in Bangladesh that has reportedly triggered an influx of refugees into India.
Recently, the West Bengal Police recently busted a fake passport racket, arresting seven people involved in issuing passports to those illegally entering India through the porous borders.
India and Bangladesh share a 4,096-kilometre border, much of which is unfenced, making it vulnerable to infiltration and smuggling, according to an India Today investigation.
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