Mamata and Shah Exchange Heated Remarks Over Infiltration

PTI, KOLKATA, DEC 30: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday alleged that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee was abetting the infiltration of Bangladeshis, which has "dangerously altered" the state's demography over the past few years. Addressing a press conference in Kolkata with months left for elections in the state, Shah said people of West Bengal were anxious over infiltration, which the BJP would end after coming to power in the state with a "two-thirds majority in 2026". He said the Assembly elections would take place in April, and the issue of "driving infiltrators out of the country" would be the key agenda.

"Insaan chhoddijiye, parinda bhi puri nahin maar paaye, is prakarki mazboot grid ki rachana hum karenge (Forget humans, even birds won't be able to breach the grid we intend to build)," Shah said. "Na keval ghoospet rokenge, saare ghoospetiyon ko chun chun ke Bharat ke bahar nikalneka kaam bhi BJP ki Bangal sarkar karegi (The BJP-led government in Bengal will not only stop the infiltrators, but it will also identify them one by one and drive them out of the country)," he added.

Shah alleged that the Centre has not been able to complete fencing of the India-Bangladesh border because the West Bengal government was not providing the required land. The Union Minister maintained that the Chief Minister must answer why the infiltration problem is more acute in Bengal than in BJP-ruled Assam, Tripura, or in the country's western states like Rajasthan and Gujarat, besides Punjab and Kashmir.

"Why does it happen only in Bengal? That's because infiltration happens here under your direct monitoring, resulting in a slow but steady change of the state's demography to strengthen your vote bank," he said. "BJP will form a government in West Bengal with a two-thirds majority," he added.

Hitting back, Mamata on Tuesday described Shah as 'Dushasan' without naming him and demanded his resignation, accusing him of failing to prevent subversive activities in the country. Mamata also questioned Shah, asking why this state is being blamed all the time for infiltration when a terror attack had happened in Jammu and Kashmir, and a blast took place in New Delhi.

"Today, Dushasan has come to Bengal. Whenever elections are around, Duryodhan and Dushasan arrive here," the Chief Minister said, without naming anyone, while addressing a public meeting at Barjora in Bankura district. The Trinamool Congress supremo also criticised Shah over the issue of infiltration, questioning the Centre's handling of national security.

"Does infiltration happen only in Bengal? Doesn't it happen in Kashmir?" Mamata said, referring to the terror attack in Pahalgam. Mamata questioned why West Bengal was being blamed for everything. The Chief Minister questioned Shah's performance as the country's Home Minister, saying: "You must resign. You are the Home Minister of the country; you should resign."