Suvendu warns of stringent action against vandalism
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Friday issued a stern warning against incidents of vandalism and attacks on police personnel, declaring that “no one will be worse than me” if anyone attempts to disturb law and order in the State.
Projecting his Government as one pursuing a policy of “zero tolerance” towards unrest and anti-social activities, Adhikari said the stringent legal action would be taken against those who indulge in violence or take the law into their own hands.
Addressing a press conference organised by the state BJP to mark 12 years of the Narendra Modi-led Government at the Centre, the chief minister sought to draw a sharp distinction with the previous TMC regime, asserting that maintaining peace and public order remained a top priority of his administration. “After we came to power, there have been certain incidents, and we tackled them firmly, thus giving a clear message that there will be zero tolerance towards this kind of unrest, hooliganism and anti-social activities. We will not allow such things to continue,” he said. Issuing a stern warning, the chief minister said, “If such incidents happen again, no one will be worse than me.
The strictest action will be taken against those involved in vandalism and taking the law into their own hands.” Referring to recent disturbances in parts of the State, he claimed that except for isolated incidents in areas such as Park Circus and Asansol, where protests took place over the use of loudspeakers at religious places and the use of bulldozers against illegal buildings, the overall law-and-order situation in Bengal remained under control.
The remarks assume significance against the backdrop of recurring political clashes and allegations of violence that have long dominated Bengal’s political discourse, with the BJP frequently accusing the previous TMC Government of being soft on anti-social elements and political intimidation.
Seeking to reinforce the BJP’s governance narrative, Adhikari also highlighted what he described as the benefits of the “double-engine Government” model, asserting that coordination between the Centre and the State was already delivering tangible results.
“We will work under Modi ji’s leadership and guidance. Even in this short period, we have already accomplished some work. The public has started to see the benefits of the double-engine Government, and these benefits will become even more apparent in the days to come,” he said.
On national security, the chief minister said his Government was expediting the transfer of land to the Border Security Force (BSF) for strengthening border infrastructure.
“Regarding national security, we have handed over land to the BSF. This process is continuing. In north Bengal, particularly in areas adjoining the Chicken’s Neck corridor, fencing work has already begun,” he said.
The strategic Siliguri Corridor, popularly known as the Chicken’s Neck, connects the northeastern states with the rest of the country and has long been viewed as a sensitive national security zone.
CM Adhikari said his Government was committed to completing the border infrastructure projects in a time-bound manner, describing them as essential for safeguarding national security.
The chief minister’s remarks came as the BJP sought to showcase both its governance record at the Centre and its early administrative priorities in Bengal, placing law and order, development and national security at the centre of its political messaging.
