While Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday reminded the State Government’s that apart from the Border Security Force — which comes under the Union Home Ministry — the States too were responsible for inland security, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her reluctance to allow more jurisdictional space to the BSF, sources said.
The two leaders were taking part in the 25th Eastern Zonal Council meeting held at the Bengal State secretariat at Nabanna in Kolkata. Among other leaders who took part in the meeting were Mamata’s Jharkhand counterpart Hemant Soren, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Tejaswi Yadav, Odisha Minister Pradeep Amat.
The annual meeting took place amid growing concerns over unchecked infiltration, trans-border smuggling, fake currency and drugs peddling, arms and cattle rackets, etc.
While the role of the BSF was discussed against the backdrop of increased jurisdictional area of the paramilitary force an argument reportedly ensued between the Chief Minister and BSF brass.
The Centre had earlier increased the BSF’s jurisdictions from 15 km to 50 km much to the chagrin of the Chief Ministers of the border States, including Mamata.
According to reports the Chief Minister raised the issue for a second time in a private one-on-one parley with Shah. After the two-and-a-half-hour EZC meeting, Mamata met Shah at her office for about 20 minutes where she reportedly raised the BSF issue once again, sources said.
The Chief Minister asked on what basis the BSF was asking for so much land and added that it would be not possible for her Government to allot the amount of land thus demanded.
Later Bengal Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari said that the Chief Minister was reluctant to provide requisite land to construct BSF outposts as also fencing the border.
“Questions are being raised as to why the long border with Bengal has not been fenced entirely … it is the State Government which is not ready to provide the land … we will request the Home Minister to get the land purchased for the construction of BSF posts and fencing in order to stop border smuggling and infiltration which helps the Trinamool Congress,” Adhikari said.