Guwahati (Assam) [India], December 30 : Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Tuesday backed Union Home Minister Amit Shah's remarks on infiltration in West Bengal, alleging that while Assam and Tripura were taking steps to fight against illegal entry, the neighbouring state was "opening its doors to the infiltrators".
The Chief Minister called for decisive action to address infiltration along the West Bengal-Bangladesh border and welcomed the Home Minister's proposal for a national grid.
Speaking to reporters, Sarma said, "That is the factual position. While Assam and Tripura are fighting against infiltration, Bengal is opening its doors to the infiltrators. We must take strong action on the West Bengal-Bangladesh border. The Home Minister has proposed a national grid; we welcome it."
Earlier today, while addressing a press conference in West Bengal, Union Home Minister Amit Shah questioned West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee over the alleged infiltration of illegal immigrants in the state, accusing her government of refusing to provide land for border fencing.
"It is the West Bengal government which is not allotting land to establish border fencing along Bangladesh. Can the CM answer why infiltration has stopped at the borders of Tripura, Assam, Rajasthan, Punjab, Kashmir and Gujarat? It is because, in West Bengal, infiltration occurs under your watch to bring about demographic change and strengthen your votes. The next election will be fought on the issues of stopping infiltration and removing infiltrators from here. Infiltration happening from the Bengal border is an issue of national security," Shah said.
He said that infiltration has stopped in Tripura and Assam, while it continues in West Bengal. Shah claimed that Mamata Banerjee wants the infiltration to continue for political purposes, which he said was "to expand her vote bank".
"Mamata, today I want to ask you a simple question. Which government refuses to provide land for border fencing? I will answer it myself -- it is your government that does not provide land for border fencing. I then want to ask why infiltrators first enter Bengal. What are your patwaris and police stations doing? Why are these infiltrators not sent back? Can the Bengal government explain why infiltration has been stopped in Assam and Tripura? It is happening only in Bengal because this is taking place under your watch. You want to change Bengal's demography to expand your vote bank," he said.
Further, responding to Union Minister Amit Shah's accusations, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee compared BJP leaders to Duryodhana and Dushasana, mythological characters in the epic Mahabharat.
Banerjee noted that the TMC government granted land for fencing in Petrapol and Andal.
Addressing a public meeting, she said, "Remember the situation 14 years ago, people were scared. A lot of development work was done for Bankura, and much was done to overcome the water crisis. The elections have arrived, and people are being harassed in the name of SIR."A Dushasana has come to Bengal. As soon as the elections come, Dushasana and Duryodhana start appearing. Dushasana has come, a disciple of Shakuni, who has come to gather information. Today, they are saying that Mamata Banerjee didn't give land. If I hadn't given the land, what would have happened? Who gave the land in Petrapole? Who gave the land in Andal?" the TMC leader added.