New Delhi, March 27 (HS): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday held West Bengal’s Mamata Banerjee government responsible for the lack of fencing on the 450 km long Indian border adjacent to Bangladesh in the Lok Sabha. He stated that despite all efforts, the Bengal government is not providing land.

In response to a discussion in the Lok Sabha on the Immigration and Foreigners Bill, 2025, Home Minister Shah mentioned that questions are raised regarding the BSF and the army concerning Bangladeshi infiltrators. He pointed out that India shares a 2216 km border with Bangladesh, of which 1653 km has already been fenced. Roads have also been constructed near the fence and outposts have been established. The remaining length for fencing is 563 km, and this border is still open. Out of this, there is 112 km of border where fencing is not practical due to drains, rivers, and hills. The remaining 450 km needs fencing, and this is pending because the Bengal government is not providing land; seven meetings have already been held for this.

Amit Shah stated, The work of erecting a fence over 450 kilometers is pending because the West Bengal government is not providing land for it. Whenever we attempt to put up the fencing, the ruling party's cadre comes and creates a ruckus and raises religious slogans. The work of fencing along the 450 km border is stalled because the West Bengal government's focus is on the infiltrators.

In response to opposition questions regarding the Rohingyas reaching Delhi, he claimed that Bangladeshi infiltrators and Rohingyas used to enter from Assam when there was a Congress government. Now they come through TMC-governed Bengal. He raised questions about those providing Aadhaar cards and citizenship to such infiltrators. He mentioned that all the Bangladeshi nationals caught had Aadhaar cards and proof of citizenship from the 24 Parganas district. Shah said that they come to Delhi with the same Aadhaar and voter cards. He added that if the state government does not issue them Aadhaar cards, then a person wouldn’t even be able to fly a bird. However, he suggested that all this will not last long. Elections are set for 2026, and lotus will bloom in Bengal, and this will all come to an end.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar