Kolkata, 5 January (H.S.): West Bengal's political climate turned tense as Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari slammed Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her recent remarks accusing the Border Security Force (BSF) of facilitating infiltration from Bangladesh. Adhikari termed her allegations a grave insult to the security forces dedicated to protecting the nation's borders.In a strongly worded letter addressed to the Chief Minister, Adhikari accused her of engaging in substandard politics to appease her vote bank, alleging that her administration has turned infiltrators into a significant political resource.Adhikari highlighted the critical role played by the BSF and other Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) in safeguarding India’s borders, specifically mentioning the 33,000 BSF personnel stationed in West Bengal and the 75,000 CAPF personnel nationwide. To blame BSF for infiltration is to undermine the selfless sacrifices of these personnel who operate under harsh geographical conditions to protect our nation, he wrote.He further criticized Banerjee for dragging security forces into political debates, calling it substandard politics aimed at deflecting attention from the state government's own administrative failures.Adhikari also drew comparisons with Assam, a BJP-ruled state, where the administration allegedly works in tandem with security agencies to curb illegal immigration. In contrast, he claimed the West Bengal government has been non-cooperative on border-related matters, particularly in facilitating the construction of border fencing along the India-Bangladesh boundary.The BJP leader pointed out that out of the 284 kilometres of fencing planned for the state’s borders, progress has been stalled due to delays in land acquisition. Despite the Centre releasing Rs 217 crore for the project, only 31 per cent of the required land has been handed over to the BSF.Adhikari accused the state government of opposing the settlement of persecuted minorities from neighbouring countries while encouraging illegal infiltration. The art, culture, and demography of West Bengal are being sacrificed for the greed of vote banks, he alleged.In a sharp rebuttal to Banerjee’s claims of a blueprint to destabilize the state orchestrated by the Centre, Adhikari pointed to the Centre’s efforts to enhance border security. These efforts include the completion of 591 kilometres of border fencing, the installation of floodlights, and the construction of observation towers and border outposts.

Hindusthan Samachar / SP Singh