BJP Calls for Enhanced Fencing at Bengal-Bangladesh Border, Accuses Trinamool of Supporting Infiltration
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Patna, March 29 (NationPress) On Sunday, leaders from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) urged for the establishment of fencing along the border regions of West Bengal that share a boundary with Bangladesh. They accused the Trinamool Congress government, under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, of "sheltering infiltrators".
This call for action follows the recent release of a 35-page 'white paper' by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which outlined the last 15 years of Trinamool Congress governance in West Bengal. The report stated that out of 2,216.7 km of the international border with Bangladesh, 569 km remains unfenced, allegedly due to the state's delays in acquiring land for barbed fencing, thus enabling infiltration.
Bihar Minister and BJP leader Dilip Kumar Jaiswal addressed the media, emphasizing, "The border areas of Bengal, previously adjacent to (East) Pakistan, now border Bangladesh, extending from West Bengal to Assam. Hence, it is critical to implement fencing throughout this area."
He added, "Certain regions feature hilly terrains and rivers, complicating the fencing process. Illegal infiltrators are exploiting these conditions. Therefore, it is crucial for national security that fencing is established; this would prevent any attempts to compromise our country's safety."
The BJP's document also accused the Trinamool Congress of operating syndicates that facilitate the issuance of fraudulent identity cards to infiltrators to create “vote banks,” jeopardizing national security and altering demographic balance.
Sanjay Saraogi, the Bihar BJP President, backed the party's white paper, claiming that the Trinamool Congress-led government is protecting illegal infiltrators.
He stated, "Home Minister Amit Shah accurately described the situation in West Bengal, asserting that the Trinamool government, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, is providing protection to infiltrators, whether they are Rohingyas or Bangladeshis."
Saraogi further alleged that the state's resources are being exploited due to illegal infiltration.
He remarked, "Infiltrators and Bangladeshis are misappropriating state resources, hindering the local populace from benefiting from them. Therefore, what HM Shah articulated is valid," he stated.
In a more pointed critique of the Trinamool Congress, Saraogi asserted, "The Bengal government is facilitating the infiltration of individuals from Bangladesh into West Bengal."
He concluded, "Both the Trinamool Congress and Mamata Banerjee will face repercussions in the future, especially when the BJP successfully establishes a government in the state," he told reporters.