Mamata Banerjee opened borders to Bangladeshis, can't stop infiltration: Amit Shah
Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday launched a scathing attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, accusing her of facilitating infiltration from Bangladesh and prioritising her vote bank over national security.Addressing the Vijay Sankalp Karyakarta Sammelan during his two-day visit to the state, Shah said, "Mamata Banerjee has opened the nation's borders for Bangladeshis. She is allowing infiltration. Mamata Banerjee cannot stop infiltration; only a Lotus government can do that. We have asked her for land to create the fence. She is not providing land at the borders, so that infiltration continues, and her vote bank keeps increasing, and her nephew becomes the Chief Minister after her. But this is not going to happen."advertisementSounding the poll bugle in West Bengal ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, Shah said the elections in the state will not only determine the future of Bengal but also have implications for national security.
He further criticised Mamata Banerjee for opposing the Centre's Operation Sindoor, under which nine terror camps and subsequently military bases were targeted in Pakistan in response to the April 22 Pahalgam carnage."Mamata Banerjee may favour the Pakistani terrorists as much as she wants, but I want to tell her that this is PM Modi's government and Operation Sindoor is not yet over. Anyone who dares anything will be given a proper answer," Shah said.Referring to the recent violence in Murshidabad, Shah accused the state government of failing to protect the Hindu community. "Our Home Ministry repeatedly asked to call the BSF, but they did not. Then our workers approached the High Court, and following the court's order, the BSF arrived and worked to protect the Hindus. Mamata Banerjee's minister abused the BSF, and the party's leaders were standing there and encouraging the rioters. The ministers of the Bengal government were involved in these riots. This was a state-sponsored riot which caused injustice to the Hindus," he said.advertisementThe Murshidabad violence refers to a series of violent incidents that broke out in April in the Murshidabad district following protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025. The unrest led to multiple deaths, injuries, and widespread damage to public and private property.Shah also questioned Mamata Banerjee's stance on the Waqf Act. "Is something wrong with the Waqf Act? Should the land of Bengal be sacrificed because of Waqf? Who is Mamata Banerjee favouring by opposing the Waqf Act? Mamata Banerjee may oppose the Waqf till 2026 because after that she will not be the CM any more," he asserted.The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, was passed by both Houses of Parliament following extended heated debates. It received presidential assent from President Droupadi Murmu on April 5 and was officially notified, coming into effect on April 8.Ahead of Shah's visit, the BJP's West Bengal unit president and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar said, "After the PM's visit, the CM was rattled. She is demanding an early election. I think she is tired, and she feels that if the early elections are held, she will be relieved from the post sooner. People of Bengal must understand that if the BJP government doesn't come to power, incidents like Murshidabad will continue to happen. Mamata Banerjee has demeaned the women of West Bengal, and they will respond to her in the coming election."advertisementMajumdar added that Shah's meetings with mandal presidents and senior leaders would galvanise the party's grassroots efforts and mark the beginning of the party's mission for the 2026 elections, which he described as "Operation Bengal" to "uphold the honour of Bengal's women."The Trinamool Congress, on the other hand, accused the BJP of using Operation Sindoor for political gain. TMC minister Sashi Panja dismissed BJP leaders as "seasonal visitors" who lack genuine commitment to the people of Bengal. She said the BJP's insensitivity towards women's issues would prevent them from gaining support in the state.Must Watch
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