Moments before catching her flight to Delhi where she would meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday said among other things she would raise the issue of recent expansion of jurisdiction of the Border Security Forces from 15 km to 50 km.
The Chief Minister who went to Delhi on a three-day visit said “the BJP Government is using the BSF to ensure that BJP is safe … I have nothing against the security forces but the way they are using it to take away the State’s powers is deplorable and undemocratic … this is not done … no one can usurp the power of states like this… no one can forcibly take away the power of the States.”
The Chief Minister is likely to hold talks with the Prime Minister too. “I have an appointment with the Prime Minister … during my talks I will raise a lot of issues including those on funds due to the State … but the BSF issue will definitely figure in the talks.”
The Chief Minister is visiting the national Capital days ahead of the winter session of parliament which begins on November 29. During her visit, she is also likely to meet several Opposition leaders including Congress president Sonia Gandhi the TMC sources said. Banerjee’s visit is aimed at boosting opposition unity ahead of the 2024 general elections.
Attacking Home Minister Amit Shah for refusing to meet the TMC MPs who were there to raise the issue on atrocities mounted on the opposition parties in Tripura, Banerjee said, “Our MPs wanted to meet the Home Minister… but he did not give them time … however I told my MPs not to protest in front of his house because I will raise the issue with the Prime Minister during my talks with him.”
Banerjee was referring to the Sunday’s attacks on TMC men in Agartala when Bengal Trinamool youth wing general secretary Sayani Ghosh was being interrogated by the police inside a police station. Ghosh who was subsequently arrested on attempted murder charges was on Monday granted bail by an Agartala court.
Referring to the alleged attacks on the TMC men in Agartala the Bengal Chief Minister said “while the BJP talks about democracy they are attacking our men in Tripura … during Bengal elections many BJP leaders came to Bengal but were not attacked like this … then they spoke about Article 355, 356, Home Ministry intervention and also sent National Human Rights Commission … but when such things are happening in Tripura where is NHRC or the other central agencies.”