Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari apologises to BSF over Trinamool govt's treatment
Synopsis
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari's Diwali visit to the Hingalganj BSF camp carried a sharp political edge — a public apology to central security forces for the alleged misdeeds of the previous TMC government, paired with fresh allegations that TMC withheld land for India-Bangladesh border fencing. It is a pointed early signal of how his BJP administration intends to recast the state's relationship with central forces.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari publicly apologised to the BSF on 8 November 2026 for alleged mistreatment by the previous Trinamool Congress government.
The apology was made during a Diwali visit to the Hingalganj BSF camp in North 24 Parganas — his first such celebration as Chief Minister.
Adhikari alleged the previous TMC government refused to provide land for India-Bangladesh border fencing despite repeated requests from the Centre.
The Chief Minister said the current BJP government has strengthened border security and improved coordination with central forces in a 'short time' since coming to power.
West Bengal DGP Siddh Nath Gupta was present at the camp; Adhikari later visited Nandigram, East Midnapore for Kali Puja events.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday, 8 November 2026, publicly apologised to the Border Security Force (BSF) for the manner in which the Central armed force was allegedly treated during the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government. The apology was made during a Diwali visit to the Hingalganj BSF camp in North 24 Parganas district, marking the first time Adhikari has celebrated the festival with BSF jawans as Chief Minister of the state.
What the Chief Minister Said
Speaking directly to BSF personnel at the camp, Chief Minister Adhikari said, 'The previous (Trinamool Congress) government in the state, the way they treated the BSF, the way they used it, for this, I, as the Chief Minister of West Bengal, apologise for this misdeed of the previous government. The bad words that they used on the BSF and the CRPF... The people, the common man has replied to this in the end.'
Invoking Swami Vivekananda, he added, 'This is the land of Swami Vivekananda. He had said leave what has happened behind and move forward. Now we have to move forward.'
Border Security and Land Dispute with Previous Government
Adhikari also raised the issue of land allocation for fencing along the India-Bangladesh border, alleging that the previous TMC administration had withheld land despite repeated requests from the Union government. 'The previous government (Trinamool Congress) did not give land for the construction of fencing along India-Bangladesh border. The Indian government tried repeatedly, but even then it did not give us land,' he said.
He asserted that under the current Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) administration, border security has been strengthened and coordination between state and central forces has improved significantly. 'Good coordination has been created. Coordination meeting was held,' he stated.
Diwali at the BSF Camp
Chief Minister Adhikari reached the Hingalganj BSF camp by helicopter from the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata. He celebrated Diwali with the jawans, exchanged greetings, and shared sweets — a gesture seen as a deliberate symbolic outreach to central security forces.
West Bengal Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta was also present on the occasion. The Chief Minister subsequently visited a puja mandap near the Hingalganj police station before returning to Kolkata by helicopter from the Hingalganj College grounds.
Earlier in the Day and Further Schedule
Earlier on Sunday, Adhikari had celebrated Diwali with jawans and police personnel on duty at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport, lighting ceremonial lamps, distributing sweets, and exchanging greetings. In the afternoon, the Chief Minister was scheduled to attend several Kali Puja events in Nandigram, East Midnapore district, including an event at the Nandigram police station.
The public apology to the BSF is likely to sharpen the political divide between the ruling BJP in West Bengal and the opposition TMC, with border security and central force deployment expected to remain a flashpoint in state politics going forward.
Point of View
While positioning his BJP government as a corrective. The allegation over withheld land for border fencing is particularly pointed: it feeds directly into the Centre's long-running narrative about TMC's attitude toward national security cooperation. What is missing from the public statement is any specificity — which incidents, which orders, which officials were responsible. Without that, the apology functions as political theatre rather than institutional accountability. The real test will be whether border fencing, coordination protocols, and force deployment tangibly improve under BJP rule — or whether this remains a rhetorical repositioning ahead of the next state election cycle.
NationPress
8 Nov 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari apologise to the BSF?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari apologised to the Border Security Force (BSF) on 8 November 2026 for the alleged mistreatment the central force experienced during the previous Trinamool Congress (TMC) government in West Bengal. He made the apology during a Diwali visit to the Hingalganj BSF camp in North 24 Parganas district.
What did Adhikari say about the India-Bangladesh border fencing?
Adhikari alleged that the previous TMC government refused to provide land required for constructing fencing along the India-Bangladesh border, despite repeated efforts by the Union government. He said the current BJP administration has prioritised border security and improved coordination with central forces.
Where did the Chief Minister make this apology?
The apology was made at the Hingalganj BSF camp in North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal. Adhikari travelled there by helicopter from Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata as part of his Diwali outreach to security personnel.
What is the political significance of this event?
The public apology is widely seen as a pointed political attack on the TMC, which governed West Bengal before the BJP's current administration. It signals that the Adhikari government intends to sharply differentiate its approach to central security forces from that of its predecessor, particularly on border security.
Who else was present at the Hingalganj BSF camp visit?
West Bengal Director General of Police Siddh Nath Gupta accompanied Chief Minister Adhikari at the Hingalganj BSF camp. Adhikari celebrated Diwali with the jawans, exchanging greetings and sharing sweets before continuing to Nandigram for Kali Puja events.
