KOLKATA — Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Suvendu Adhikari visited the 74th Battalion camp of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Hingalganj on Sunday, calling for heightened vigilance along the India-Bangladesh border to curb unauthorized cross-border entry.
The visit coincided with regional festive observances, during which Adhikari surveyed border outposts along the Icchamati River and held discussions with security personnel and administrative officials.
Border Inspection and Infiltration Remarks
During his inspection of floating border outposts in North 24 Parganas district, Adhikari emphasized the need for strict border monitoring:
-
Surveillance Observations: Adhikari stated that he conducted a visual survey of the riverine border area using binoculars from a BSF floating outpost, asserting that individuals on the opposite side monitor patrol shifts to attempt illegal crossings.
-
Call for Inter-Agency Coordination: The leader stressed the importance of seamless cooperation between the BSF and local police to secure the border zone, noting that extensive search and identification operations were underway across a 15-kilometer stretch.
-
Security Stance: Reassuring local residents, he stated that administrative and security measures would remain focused on identifying and apprehending unauthorized entrants operating along the border belt.
Political Response from Trinamool Congress
The ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) pushed back against the remarks, pointing out central jurisdiction over national border management:
-
Jurisdictional Role of Central Agencies: Senior TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh highlighted that the BSF operates directly under the Union Ministry of Home Affairs, making border security and fencing logistics the primary responsibility of the Central Government.
-
Cross-State Counter-Argument: Rebutting allegations aimed selectively at West Bengal, Ghosh noted that instances of illegal entry and Rohingya migration have also been recorded in BJP-ruled states like Tripura, cautioning against politicizing border enforcement challenges.
-
Support for Security Forces: The TMC leader reiterated respect for BSF personnel guarding the nation’s frontiers while maintaining that systemic policy decisions rested with central authorities in New Delhi.
